Overview
Uncover the molecular and cellular interactions underlying the therapeutic benefits and adverse effects of drugs.
This paper will delve into the fields of molecular pharmacology and toxicology, exploring how drugs interact with cellular and molecular targets to exert their therapeutic or adverse effects. It will provide students with the core knowledge and skills needed to probe drug effects, while showcasing the use of drugs as tools for investigating cellular processes.
About this paper
| Paper title | Pharmacology: Molecular Targets of Drugs |
|---|---|
| Subject | Pharmacology |
| EFTS | 0.1500 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,243.65 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- PHAL 241 or (BIOC 192 and CHEM 191 and two of (BIOL 111, BIOL 115, CELS 191, HUBS 191, HUBS 192, PTWY 131) and 18 further 200-level ANAT, BIOC, GENE, MICR, PHAL or PHSL points)
- Restriction
- PHAL 305
- Recommended Preparation
- BIOC 222
- Schedule C
- Science
- Contact
- pharmacology@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
Convenor: Dr Greg Giles
2025 teaching staff to be confirmed.- Paper Structure
PHAL 311 has lectures, tutorials and laboratories.
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Scholarship, Research, Critical Thinking, Communication, Global Perspective, Research, Interdisciplinary Perspective, Ethics, Self-Motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.- Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will:
- Categorise drugs and their targets by molecule type and method of interaction
- Explain and apply principles of pharmacodynamics, including receptor theory, dose-response relationships, and drug potency and efficacy
- Connect adverse drug reactions to the molecular targets and pathways influenced by toxic substances
- Describe how drugs can be used as tools to dissect pathways that control normal and pathological cellular processes
- Assessment details
PHAL 311 is assessed through a final exam (60%) and internal assessments (40%) which may include laboratory worksheets and a test.