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Principles of Pharmacology & Practical Scientific Research

What's Involved?

In order to support critical and intelligent insight into the science of drug use and abuse, this module familiarises students with the principles of the pharmacological basis of therapeutics. A research project with a principal investigator gives students a practical application of the scientific method and reasoning.

An understanding of how drugs are processed within the body to accurately predict drug responses and the effects on a patient from the cellular level up, in addition to learning the correct terminology to describe pharmacological principles and drug classification will cultivate an ability to treat patients and inform them of outcomes and alternatives.

Student Experience

Essential principles and terminology of autonomic, cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, gastro-intestinal and clinical pharmacologies, as well as toxicology, are delivered by lectures, case-based tutorials, laboratories and a light-hearted, but competitive table quiz, encouraging a comfortable proficiency on the topics discussed.

The 14-week research project provides an invaluable introduction to research. Students learn how to utilize laboratory, database and literature resources, while working with a leading researcher to design a study, generate and analyse data, evaluate and interpret statistical data and present it in a short paper and poster. The ability to work on their own, within a team and to be able to communicate research outputs strengthens the attributes of graduates from our programme.

Spiers is a great lecturer. He is interesting, engaging and his lecture slides give a really good base for further learning and study.

This module managed to teach almost the entirety of pharmacology and the main drugs of choice for most systems in a year. It was a lot of information, but the way the lectures highlighted aims and objectives, as well as being concise and focused on understanding mechanisms rather than memorising made it manageable.

The research project provided an insight into academic medicine and enabled students to gain experience in research which will aid in applications to research programs.


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