BI2BE4-Pharmacology and Toxicology

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites: BI1BEC1 Building Blocks of Life
Non-modular pre-requisites: Recommended for students with an interest in Clinical or Food Microbiology
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: PM2C2 Therapeutics and medicines optimisation C2: Therapeutics and Patient care
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Prof David Leake
Email: d.s.leake@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Drugs do not work by magic – they work by nudging the control systems in our body so that some particular process will work either faster or slower. You will learn how drugs act by binding to the receptors for our normal signalling molecules, including neurotransmitters, and how drugs manage to reach these receptors after they have been ingested. You will also discover the ways in which various substances, including drugs, can damage the body (toxicology). There is a pharmacological practical for you to carry out to discover that the very simple molecule nitric oxide has regulatory functions all the time in our bodies (a practical which earned the scientists that performed it a Noble Prize).

Aims:
􀀕 To provide students with an understanding that drugs act by binding to receptors for endogenous signalling molecules
􀀕 To provide an understanding of how drugs are absorbed, metabolised and excreted
􀀕 To improve an appreciation of how new drugs are developed
􀀕 To provide an understanding of the mechanisms by which exogenous substances, including drugs, can damage the body

Assessable learning outcomes:
Assessable outcomes
At the end of the module the student should be able to:
1. describe how drugs work by binding to receptors in the body;
2. describe the concepts of agonism and antagonism at receptors;
3. describe how drugs are absorbed, metabolised and excreted;
4. describe how drugs are developed;
5. define toxicology and describe its basic concepts.

Additional outcomes:
Students should improve their team working skills by working in small groups in a practical class.

Outline content:
The lectures cover:
􀀕 the definition and scope of pharmacology
􀀕 the ways in which drugs act by binding to receptors
􀀕 pharmacokinetics (i.e. the absorption, metabolism and excretion of drugs)
􀀕 drug-drug interactions
􀀕 the definition of toxicology and the mechanisms by which exogenous chemicals can damage organisms.

There is a practical on arterial vasodilatation caused by nitric oxide.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
There will usually be two lectures for ten weeks and one practical.