Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit builds on the previos physiology and pharmacology units and aims to describe the pathophysiology of the following important disotrders: hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and depression. This unit will provide a solid grounding of knowledge as to how biological systems are affected by these diseases and how drugs can be used to modify these changes and rebalance a person's physiology. Logical approaches to designing experiments using different biological research methods to identify new therapeutic targets for these disorders will also be explored.

This will involve the study of:

• Hypertension
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Schizophrenia
• Parkinson's disease
• Alzheimer's disease
• Depression

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Describe the pathophysiology of the six diseases under study.
2. Describe the physiological mechanisms which have been affected by these disorders.
3. Explain how affected physiological mechanisms can be manipulated by currently used drugs.
4. Design an experiment using various biological research methods to identify targets which may be therapeutically useful in the treatment of the disorders to be studied.
5. Analyse data obtained from research data to see whether a new drug is considerably more effective than an established one.
6. Explain the different pharmacological targets which can be exploited to rebalance a patient's physiology in the treatment of disease.
7. Demonstrate the development of written and oral communication skills appropriate for 3rd year students - explain the pathophysiology for one disease state and one associated drug treatment, relating the drug target to the disease state.

Assessment

Final exam (2 hour): 70%; Ongoing assessment and practical workshops: 30%.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Sab Ventura

Prerequisites

VPS1042 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences
VPS1082 Physiology II
VPS2062 Pharmacology
VPS2092 Molecular cell biology

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/