Graduate Courses

Coordinator: Dr. Peter McPherson

A survey course examining several contemporary topics in toxicology with emphasis on human/mammalian toxicology. Topics in the course may include: adverse drug reactions, acute poisonings, natural toxins, maternal-fetal toxicology, forensic toxicology, environmental chemistry, pesticides, dioxins, endocrine disruptors, regulatory toxicology, occupational toxicology, food toxicology, herbal products, alcohol, smoking, and drugs of abuse. Students are evaluated by their performance on written tests and assignments.

Coordinators: Dr. Cindy Woodland and Dr. Prateek Lala

The aim of this course is to give students an opportunity to conduct independent research in pharmacology. Students will be matched to faculty members who will supervise their project and provide guidance and assistance. Students will be required to apply their knowledge of pharmacology and research methodologies. This course will allow students to acquire important practical skills, in-depth knowledge of the research subject, and develop scientific communication skills.

This course is an opportunity to complete further study under the supervision of the same graduate faculty member as PCL2200Y. It is intended for students who wish to pursue more in-depth study of their research question(s), generally with the intention of publishing their research findings.

Coordinator: Dr. Jeff Henderson

This course is offered in alternate years.

This course will emphasize the molecular biology principles and mechanisms underlying the toxicity of drugs and foreign agents. A journal club format is used to examine and critically evaluate the current hypotheses that explain the events at the molecular level which determine and affect toxicity. This course is suitable for graduate students of pharmacy, toxicology, pharmacology, biochemistry, environmental science, pathology, neuroscience and medical biophysics. A weekly journal club will also be held after the lectures.

Coordinator: Dr. Rebecca Laposa

The aim of this course is to provide instruction on the basic principles of drug development, with a primary focus on the application of fundamental principles of pharmacology and toxicology to the design and conduct of early phase clinical trials. Students will become familiar with the standard safety and pharmacokinetic assessments that take place during early clinical development, as well as with proof-of-concept and proof-of-mechanism studies, evaluations of exposure- toxicity relationships and refinement of dose selection for later phase trials. In addition to actual clinical studies, the course will examine various modeling approaches that are also conducted during drug development. At the end of the course, students should understand the phases of drug development, be able to design an early phase clinical study, understand the standardized practices and ethical implications of clinical research, and be aware of some of the scientific and non-scientific career paths/roles in drug development.

Students may wish to include a 4-month (PCL2101Y or PCL2102Y) or 8-month (PCL2100Y) placement option with an approved employment site (e.g., pharmaceutical company, contract research organization (CRO), consulting business, government agency, healthcare partner). The placement is an opportunity for students to explore and immerse themselves in areas such as drug development, medical writing, adverse event reporting, pharmacokinetic analysis, and clinical trial design and management.

Coordinator: Dr. Cindy Woodland

This is a Credit/Non-Credit course.

Coordinator: Dr. Peter McPherson

Seminars are given by invited external speakers, Department faculty members and doctoral students. Although students are not expected to attend every seminar, a minimum attendance level of 50 seminars is required, to receive course credit, and students will be penalized for a poor attendance record. The penalty will be essay assignment(s) on seminar topics that the student has missed. Additional requirements for this course are the presentation of two Departmental seminars during the course of the PhD program.

No formal grade is assigned to PCL1003Y. It is a Credit/Non-Credit course.

Coordinator: Drs. Peter McPherson and Martin Beaulieu

Systems Pharmacology I examines a variety of drugs and drug classes with an emphasis on drugs acting on the central nervous system and immune systems as well as those used in cancer and infectious diseases. 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 scientific literature and clinical cases.

Coordinator: Drs. Peter McPherson and Landon J. Edgar

Systems Pharmacology II examines a variety of drugs and drug classes with an emphasis on drugs acting on the cardiovascular and endocrine 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 scientific literature and clinical cases.