COURSE DESCRIPTION:
As a society, where would we be without drugs? Antibiotics, chemotherapeutics and small molecules for the treatment of infections, cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, pain and a multitude of other conditions has allowed us to live longer, healthier and more productive lives. This course will provide an essential foundation of pharmacology for students interested in understanding how some of the most impactful drugs were discovered or designed and their mechanisms of action via state-of-the-art lectures and in-depth discussion. Modules will cover the principles of modern pharmacology (e.g., pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics), methodologies of drug discovery/design and therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, metabolic diseases and infections. The course will also introduce newer concepts in drug development, including drugs to target aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and the role of the microbiome. Throughout, emphasis will be placed on the biology and chemistry of interactions between agents and their cellular targets, including specific enzymes, and their cellular processes. When available, their impact on physiologic systems will also be discussed, including preclinical data that spurred these drugs toward clinical trials, to evidence for their eventual successes (or failures) in humans.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

- Develop a fundamental understanding of pharmacology concepts and their application to guiding drug development
- Become familiar with how various types of drugs, from small molecules to antibodies, are - designed, developed and tested for potential clinical use
- Become familiar with major classes of drugs, including their mode of action, used to treat common chronic conditions, including cancers, type 2 diabetes, infections and metabolic disease
- Gain a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in successfully developing and bringing a drug candidate to market

PREREQUISITES:
Should have the equivalent of graduate school biochemistry. Specifically, students should have some familiarity with thermodynamics, enzyme kinetics, protein structure and function, receptor ligand interactions.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
None

SUITABLE FOR 1ST YEAR STUDENTS:
Yes

STUDENT ASSESSMENT:
Student performance will be dependent on class participation (30%), three mini take-home exams (10% each), and two student group presentations (20% each). Student participation will be based on regular attendance and discussion during faculty lectures and student projects. Students will also be expected to demonstrate mastery of concepts learned during lectures on both take-home exams and group projects/presentations.

CREDIT HOURS: 3.0