Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science (Volume 4 page 224)
Pharmacology subject : Next:534-496 | Prev:534-309 | Search | Help

534-310 Analytical Pharmacology

Note:

1. Special requirements: Laboratory coat and dissecting instruments
2. It may not be possible to take this subject in conjunction with 534-307 and 534-308 Toxicology. Students may be admitted at the discretion of the Head of Department. Experiments involving animals are an essential part of this subject; exemption is not possible.

Credit points: 22.0

Coordinator: Dr R. J. Summers

Prerequisite: Pharmacology 534-301, 534-302, 534-303, 534-304, exemption may be considered in special cases at the discretion of the Head of Department

Contact: 26 hrs lectures (two 1-hour lectures a week), 78 hrs practical (one 6-hour session a week )

Timetable: Second semester

Objectives:

By the end of the teaching program in Anaytical Pharmacology the student should:

Comprehend:

• the principles of drug action at receptors from the basis of the molecular, receptor binding, in vitro functional, electrophysiological, cell biology and in vivo functional pharmacological approaches;
• the processes involved in drug discovery, how drugs are obtained from nature, by chemical modification, by exploiting side effects of existing drugs or by rational drug design and molecular modelling;
• the use of statistics in the design and analysis of experiments.

Have developed:

• skills to successfully design and carry out laboratory experiments to study the properties of drug receptors using organ bath and receptor binding techniques;
• skills to use recording equipment to record the results of these experiments and be aware of the pitfalls and limitations of this equipment;
• an understanding of the use of statistical methods to analyse the data from these experiments;
• skills to write up the results in the form of a scientific paper: an understanding of modern methods of searching the literature by computerised databases.

Appreciate:

• the importance of the development of good laboratory and theoretical skills in order to design and execute experiments that allow valid conclusions to be reached about the mechanism of action of drugs at receptors.

Content:

Theory and practice of the study of receptors by receptor binding, autoradiography, radioimmunoassay, in vitro functional assays, electrophysiology, in vivo functional assays. Drug discovery, molecular modelling, cell biology, statistics, database search strategies.

Assessment:

A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination covering material presented in lectures and practicals; continuous assessment of laboratory records; three 2000 word reports in journal format utilising results from the experiments performed in the practical sessions (time will be allowed in practical sessions for analysis of experiments and writing up); an oral presentation of results; an oral examination.

Pharmacology subject : Next:534-496 | Prev:534-309 | Search | Help
Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science (Volume 4 page 224)

Status:          Official 1996
Date created:    Oct  9 1995
Last modified:   Oct  9 1995
Authorised by:   Academic Registrar
Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au

Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.