Graduate Courses

Coordinator: Dr. Walter Swardfager 

Systems Pharmacology II examines a variety of drugs and drug classes with an emphasis on drugs acting on the cardiovascular, respiratory,  immune and peripheral nervous systems. A comprehensive approach to drug properties and the interactions of these drugs with the human body are discussed with a focus on mechanisms of drug action, clinical indications and adverse effects. Drugs are introduced in lecture sessions and discussed from a clinical perspective in small group sessions. Small group sessions involve in-depth examinations of the content through clinical cases and student presentations.

Grade Scale: Letter Grade
Credits: 0.5 FCE
 

This is an opportunity for students to complete a full-time placement with an approved employment site (e.g., pharmaceutical company, contract research organization (CRO), government agency, healthcare partner, consulting company). The placement is an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills in clinical pharmacology as they develop professionally and explore a desired career path such as drug development, medical writing, adverse event reporting, pharmacokinetic analysis, clinical trial design and management, or market access.

Grade Scale: CR/NCR
 

Coordinators: Drs. Cindy Woodland and Prateek Lala

The aim of this full-time (4-month) course is to give students an opportunity to conduct independent research in an area of clinical pharmacology of interest to them. During this project, students will be required to apply their knowledge of pharmacology and research methodologies under the supervision of a faculty member at the University of Toronto. This course allows students to acquire important practical skills, in-depth knowledge of the research subject, and to further develop scientific communication skills.

Grade Scale: CR/NCR
Credits: 1.0 FCE
 

This course is intended for students who wish to pursue more in-depth study of their PCL2200Y research topic. Typically, students will continue working under the supervision of the same faculty member to explore the subject in greater depth (e.g., examining different outcome measures, different study populations, etc.).

Grade Scale: CR/NCR
Credits: 1.0 FCE
 

Coordinator: Dr. Peter McPherson

The purpose of this course is to provide instruction to incoming graduate students on foundational principles in Pharmacology. Although a significant number of our incoming graduate class have mastered these concepts through our undergraduate PCL programs, an increasing number of our new graduate students come with undergraduate education that does not include a significant instruction in pharmacology.

Incoming students with undergraduate PCL will be allowed to opt of completing this module provided they score 70% or greater on an exam they are able to write in September.

Grade Scale: Letter Grade
Credits: 0.25 FCE
 

Coordinator: Drs. Peter McPherson and Wai Haung (Ho) Yu

Researchers require many skillsets to be successful. Increasingly, it is important to develop a broad range of practices to support your research, be it in an academic setting, not-for-profit or for-purpose environment. This module will provide a knowledge base using first-person perspectives and best practices to develop a program that supports diverse career objectives. In particular, will learn how to apply for research funding and scholarships, how to enter and navigate a career in the pharmaceutical industry, and how to communicate research findings to various stakeholders.

Grade Scale: CR/NCR
Credits: 0.25 FCE
 

Coordinator: Dr. Peter McPherson

This is a required course for Ph.D. students. By the end of Year 1, PhD students are required to have successfully completed their first supervisory committee meeting. A required component of the first meeting is to present a written PhD project proposal to committee members that will be orally presented and defended at the first meeting. 

This modular course will introduce the concepts and craft required to create a compelling and effective Research Proposal through 4 sessions throughout Year 1. Session 1 will cover essential features of a Research Proposal, the following 3 sessions will be in a tutorial-style format with students presenting and receiving feedback on their evolving project proposals from student peers and faculty. The final assessment of the Research Proposal will be undertaken by members of the initial Supervisory Committee Meeting.

Grade Scale: CR/NCR
Credits: 0.25 FCE
 

Coordinator: Dr. Laurie Zawertailo

This course is offered in alternate years.

The goal of this course is to examine the methodological and experimental basis of studying the effects of drugs on behaviour. Throughout the course the relationship of pre-clinical behavioural pharmacology to human behavioural pharmacology is compared. There will be a strong emphasis on how behavioural studies can assist in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and identification of novel therapeutic approaches for various addictions. Part I will introduce basic concepts and general background covering the principles of behavioural pharmacology and theories of addiction will be covered, with a focus on licit drugs. This approach ensures that students somewhat weaker in relevant areas of psychology or pharmacology are able to gain such knowledge early in the course. 

Grade Scale: Letter Grade
Credits: 0.25 FCE

Coordinator: Dr. Laurie Zawertailo

This course is offered in alternate years.

The goal of this course is to explore innovations in the treatment of addictive disorders from a mechanistic and clinical effectiveness perspective.  Throughout the course the relationship of pre-clinical behavioural pharmacology to human behavioural pharmacology is compared. There will be a strong emphasis on how behavioural studies can assist in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and identification of novel therapeutic approaches for various addictions.

Grade Scale: Letter Grade
Credits: 0.25 FCE
 

Coordinator: Drs. Krista Lanctôt and Walter Swardfager

This online synchronous module is designed to expose students to the state-of-the-art in contemporary clinical research methods  (observational and interventions) relevant to drug discovery in treating and preventing dementia.

Grade Scale: CR/NCR
Credits: 0.25 FCE