Graduate School

• Introduction
• Research
  • Pharmaceutics
  • Medicinal chemistry
  • Pharmaceutical biology and pharmacology
  • Pharmacy practice

Introduction

The Graduate School was founded in 1970 to develop and direct all graduate studies in the college.

Graduate matters are now administered by a graduate studies committee with elected members from each department. The committee is chaired by the associate dean (graduate studies) who represents the college on the PhD and Scholarships Committee of the university.

Research

Research facilities are available within the departments for students to undertake graduate work in experimental and theoretical areas of the pharmaceutical sciences.

Students may apply for entry to graduate study courses by arrangement with the associate dean (graduate studies). The following fields of research are available for graduate studies.

Pharmaceutics

The role of conformation on the chemical and physical stability of peptides and proteins. The development of analytical methods of new drugs. Studies of the mechanistic aspects of lipid absorption and delivery of poorly water soluble compounds. The effect of drug binding to lipoproteins on drug disposition and metabolism. Studies of the intestinal lymphatic transport of lipophilic molecules. Integrated new product development programs. Studies of controlled release implants for antigen delivery which provide immediate and delayed pulsed release of antigens for veterinary application. Transdermal drug devlivery with particular interest in strategies to improve drug penetration across the skin using permeation enhancers. The formulation of solid interactive drug systems including studies of the mechanism of dissolution of model drugs in these mixtures and the infuence of environmental conditions on the adhesion of drugs in dry powder inhaler formulations. Investigation of mechanisms of myocardial capillary uptake using the isolated perfused rat heart preparation. Studies of placental drug transfer using an isolated perfused human placenta preparation. The pharmacokinetics of drugs in liver disease and the uptake of oxygen from the circulation to hepatic tissue and in its role in the impairment of drug metabolism. Mechanisms of drug disposition in adult and fetal livers.

Medicinal chemistry

Synthesis and characterisation of bioactive molecules, such as enzyme inhibitors, peptides, CNS-active drugs and carbohydrate-based drugs. NMR spectroscopic and computer-graphic studies of drug-receptor interactions. Protein chemistry and molecular biology.

Pharmaceutical biology and pharmacology

Pharmacological investigations on antidepressants, antipsychotics, opioids, cannabis and other drugs of abuse. The pharmacology of gut secretion and antidiarrhoeal drugs. Autonomic mechanisms, pre- and postjunctional agonists and antagonists; receptor differentiation; receptor transduction mechanisms. Adenosine and cardiovascular function.

Pharmacy practice

Quality usage of medicines, drug usage in the elderly, attitudes of patients to their medications and health professionals. Continuing pharmacy education. Attitudes of pharmacists to their professional roles. Pharmacist intervention in the prescribing cycle. Dose optimisation in oncology, spinal and infectious disease. Drug-related problems and rates of hospital admissions.