Graduate Courses

Coordinator: Dr. Cindy Woodland

This course is offered in alternate years.

This course is a seminar-based course in which students critique scientific papers in the area of toxicology. Faculty members from a wide variety of disciplines will guide these sessions and give an overview of the relevant issues in the field. Students are evaluated by oral and written critiques of the scientific literature and by their participation in class discussions. 

Coordinator: Dr. Matthieu Schapira

Students are expected to learn how to visualize and manipulative 3-dimensional molecules in silico and concepts concerning computational chemistry and methodologies to look for novel therapeutics using screens for novel ligand binding pockets.

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.

Coordinator: Dr. Cindy Woodland

This course is aimed at learners with no prior background in pharmacology. It will provide participants with an appreciation for the scope and value of pharmacology, as well as principles and basic concepts.

*Terminology and mechanisms will be described in sufficient detail to prepare students for PCL1004Y Clinical Pharmacology. 

Coordinators: Drs. Cindy Woodland and 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. Jesse Gillis

The purpose of this course is to give undergraduate students an overview and grounding in the fundamentals of neuroscience. The main emphasis is on the cellular and molecular aspects of brain function. The lecturers, all experts in their respective topics, are drawn from the different university departments and associated research institutes. Each year the course is updated to reflect the rapid evolution of ideas in neuroscience.

Coordinator: Dr. Chirag Manoj Vaswani

The purpose of this course is to give graduate students an overview and grounding in the fundamentals of neuroscience.  The main emphasis is on the cellular and molecular aspects of neurological disorders.  The lecturers, all experts in their respective topics, are drawn from the different University departments and associated research institutes. Each year, the course is updated to reflect the rapid evolution of ideas in neuroscience.

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. Landon Edgar

The purpose of this course is to provide theoretical background and practical experience in flow cytometry methodology designed to identify, quantitate and characterize individual cells within complex mixtures.