PHARMACOLOGY

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr S Tucker

Pre-requisites

BI 20M3, BI 25M7

Overview

This course covers an introduction to bioanalytical techniques used in pharmacology and toxicology, ADME, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, an introduction to toxicology, carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and biochemical mechanisms of drug action. Latterly, the course will focus on special study areas relating to pharmacology + toxicology of the renal, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems.

Structure

3 one-hour lectures per week, selected 1 one-hour tutorials and 3 eight hour laboratory sessions throughout the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination paper (70%) and in-course assessment - essays, calculations, problem solving, laboratory reports, MCQ's (30%).

Resit: 1 three-hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

The students complete multiple formative exercises throughout the course relating to the different blocks of lectures. Formative problems and questions will also be issued in the practicals for students to attempt.

Feedback

- Students get significant feedback on all of their submitted practical reports and their assignments that they do as part of the continuous assessment. They also get feedback relating to the solutions to the formative problems that they are faced with.
- All the assignments will be discussed with the students after they have completed them and submitted, so the written feedback is backed up with verbal feedback.
- Further feedback is available on request and encouraged by the responsible lecturer.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr H M Wallace

Pre-requisites

BI 20M3 and BI 25M7

Overview

A series of lectures covering cancer, immunology, antiviral and antimicrobial agents, cancer pathology and genetics.

Structure

3 one hour lectures per week and 1 all day practical.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 1 laboratory report, 1 presentation, 1 essay.

Resit: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Feedback

- Practical reports and essays will be marked with written comments.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Students are given general feedback on performance during PRS revision sessions.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Scott

Pre-requisites

BM 3502

Overview

This course provides (1) a recap and extension of third year material and (2) a more advanced account of selected topics some of which relate to the research interests of the individual academic staff of Biomedical Sciences and others which are topical areas in molecular pharmacology. The topics for study will include: cellular and molecular actions of drugs (general anaesthetics, thalidomide and dihydropyridines) bioinformatics applied to pharmacology, sphingosine-1-phosphate signalling, receptor mechanisms, G-protein-coupled receptor trafficking, diabetes and insulin resistance, marine natural products and gastro-intestinal pharmacology and therapeutics.

Structure

3-4 one-hour lectures per week and 4 one-hour tutorials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Resit: Continuous assessment comprises: 1 essay (2,000 words) and 1 oral presentation based on a scientific paper.

Formative Assessment

- Four problem-solving tutorials.

Feedback

- Essays and oral presentations will be marked and written comments provided.
- Problem solving questions will be discussed during tutorials.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr H M Wallace

Pre-requisites

PA 3004.

Overview

This course covers aspects of toxicology relevant to pharmacology, for example topics likely to be included are: the toxicological significance of drug/xenobiotic oxidation, drug transporters, immunotoxicity, immunopharmacology, developmental toxicology, molecular carcinogenesis and risk assessment.

Structure

3 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour seminar per week, 1 one-hour tutorial per week and 1 four-hour laboratory session.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination paper (70%) and in-course assessment - essay (2,000 words), laboratory report and problem solving (30%).

Formative Assessment

Problem solving tutorials.

Feedback

Essays and practicals marked with written feedback comments.
Problem solving - oral feedback and written comments.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr D Shewan

Pre-requisites

PA 3802.

Co-requisites

PA 4005, PA 4302.

Overview

A 10-week research project is undertaken alone or in pairs in which the student learns laboratory or literature research techniques. Each student is assigned to a research team usually on the Foresterhill site, but occasionally projects may be offered by associated teams outwith the University, for example at Robert Gordon University. Each student independently submits the outcome of the project as a thesis. An oral account of the project is presented to SMS staff and fellow students. Students gain extensive experience of literature research procedures, data acquisition and data manipulation. Students are assessed on both their performance throughout the whole project and the quality of the written thesis.

Structure

For literature-based projects, minimum of 2 hour tutorial each week for 10 weeks plus all day (9am-5pm) Powerpoint presentations session.

For laboratory-based projects,maximum 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, for 10 weeks plus Powerpoint presentations session.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment of day-to-day performance throughout project duration (25%), supervisor assessment of project report of up to 5000 words (25%) and independent second marker's assessment of project report (50%).

Resit: Continuous assessment of day-to-day performance throughout project duration (25%), supervisor assessment of project report of up to 5,000 words (25%) and independent second marker's assessment of project report (50%).

Formative Assessment

Practice oral presentation of research data.
Practice scientific writing.

Feedback

Tutorial sessions provide feedback on research and/or practical/technical abilities.
Feedback on draft thesis provides tuition in scientific writing.