PHA3022

Pharmacology and toxicology

Associate Professor Jocelyn O'Neil and Dr Wayne Hodgson

12 points - Four 1-hour lectures and one six-hour lab per week - Second semester - Clayton - Prerequisites: PHA3011

Objectives On the completion of this subject students will be able to understand the different ways in which drugs and other chemicals act to affect living organisms; appreciate how the body modifies the effects of drugs, and how drugs are used in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease; review the principles of selectivity of drug action and how these underlie adverse reactions to drugs and chemicals and can assist the design of novel and improved drugs; develop skills required to evaluate critically the scientific literature and pharmaceutical and promotional material, and to communicate this knowledge and understanding to the wider community; describe the risks and hazards associated with exposure to environmental, industrial and other pollutants; understand the value and the statistical and ethical bases of research in pharmacology and toxicology.

Synopsis The development of potent drugs and contamination of the earth and its atmosphere by deliberate or careless distribution of chemicals has led to the necessity for the science of toxicology. In addition, increasing use of prescribed and self-medication has made it important that as many as possible in the community are informed in the fundamental principles of pharmacology and toxicology in order to assess these problems and contribute to their containment. PHA3022 extends PHA3011 and introduces wider aspects of pharmacology and toxicology. These include drug development and government regulation of drugs, safety, evaluation of unwanted effects, non-medical use of drugs and other materials. The problems of assessing risks and estimating hazards using examples from medicine, agriculture, environmental pollution, food additives and contaminants are discussed.

Assessment Semester test: 18% - Examination (3 hours): 55% - Laboratory work: 12% - Research project: 15% - Satisfactory performance in all components is required for successful completion of this subject.

Prescribed texts

Hardman J and others Goodman and Gilman's 'The pharmacological basis of therapeutics' 9th edn, McGraw-Hill, 1996
or
Rang H P, Dale M M and Ritter J M Pharmacology 3rd edn, Churchill Livingstone, 1995

Back to the 1999 Science Handbook