Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| LIFE2088 | Biomedical Sciences | 2 | 20 | Full Year Malaysia |
- Code
- LIFE2088
- School
- Biomedical Sciences
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year Malaysia
Summary
Pre-req; LIFE1052 Human Physiology/D212Z5 Introductory Physiology/BIOS1032 Genes and Cells/C71GMC Molecules and Cells
Target Students
Optional for all life science degrees. Compulsory for biochemistry and molecularmedicine, medicinal and biological chemistry. Available for biosciences students (nutrition, microbiology, biotechnology)
Classes
- One 2-hour workshop each week for 2 weeks
- One 3-hour workshop
- One 5-hour practicum
- Two 1-hour lectures each week for 23 weeks
Assessment
- 30% Coursework1: 1,500-2,000 words Pharmacology lab report
- 70% Exam 1 (1-hour-30-minute): 1.5hrs Rogo
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
This module will examine in depth the analysis of drug action, and its application to the design and use of current therapeutics. We will define what drugs are, the different ways they act at the cellular and molecular level, and pharmacokinetic principles underlying drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. This framework will provide the basis to explore the rationale and goals of treatment for clinical therapeutic case studies. These will highlight major current challenges to human health – in cardiovascular and respiratory disease, diabetes and obesity, CNS disorders, cancer and infectious disease. Overall the student will develop a deep understanding of what the discipline of pharmacology represents, and its application to both basic biological research and current and future medical advances.Learning Outcomes
- MLO 1: Define the different mechanisms of drug action, using appropriate terminology.
- MLO 2: Explain the molecular basis for ligand-receptor interaction, and the signaling pathways associated with ion channels and different receptor superfamilies.
- MLO 3: Analyse the pharmacokinetic principles underlying drug handling by the body, and describe how these principles inform clinical guidelines.
- MLO 4: Identify how fundamental mechanisms of drug action inform drug discovery, the rationale and goals of pharmacological therapy, through a series of case studies.
- MLO 5: Interpret experimental data in teams to take evidence based decisions, within a drug discovery scenario.
- MLO 6: Identify, summarise, and critically evaluate relevant literature and write a dissertation of mechanism of drug action in disease.
Conveners
- Dr Pan Yan
Last updated 09/01/2025.