Master Program in Molecular Biotechnology

MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY

MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

The course will provide a first part of basic knowledge of general pharmacology, in particular of pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of drugs) and pharmacodynamics (drug-receptor interaction, agonism-antagonism, concepts of efficacy , potency and therapeutic index of a drug) and a second part describing the main types of drug targets of the central and peripheral nervous system. 

The aim is to direct the student to understand the basic mechanisms and principles that regulate the action of drugs that act on the nervous system (NS) and is preparatory to the special pharmacology of the master course.

Results of learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the module the student will have essential notions of general pharmacology, will recognize the importance of each of the phases of the passage of the drug in the organism and will be able to distinguish the main families of pharmacological targets present in the NS and briefly describe its structure, the main ligands and/or modulators and the activity and some adaptive mechanisms of the organism in response to a drug (e.g. tolerance).

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: The notions acquired on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and on the main families of pharmacological targets of the SN will allow the student to better understand the special pharmacology of the master course.

Communication skills: At the end of the course, the student will acquire the right terminologies specific to the discipline and should be able to use them appropriately (e.g. concentration/dose, effectiveness/potency of a drug) and be able to describe the main differences of modulation of the central and peripheral NS.

Learning skills: The student will be able to study independently and will develop the ability to self-evaluate the learning skills acquired

Program

General pharmacology:
-Main pharmacokinetic aspects (physiological barriers, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and clinical implications of pharmacokinetics (clearance, half-life, therapeutic dosages, frequency of administration);
-Characteristics of drug-receptor interaction, dose-response curves, toxic and side effects;
-Main classes of receptors.

The nervous system as a target:
• The central and peripheral nervous system;
• Direct and indirect modulation of the main signaling pathways.

Course delivery

The module includes frontal or online lessons (2 hours each) with the aid of projected images and students will be provided with all the teaching material necessary for the exam (including self-assessment sheets and quizzes). The PDFs of the lesson slides will be uploaded to the moodle in advance.

Learning assessment methods

The final evaluation consists of a test with 8 multiple choice questions (only one correct answer out of 5) and 4 true or false questions. For each correct answer a score of 3 will be assigned and for each true or false 2, for a total of 32 points, corresponding to the final grade of 30 cum laude.
The test will last a maximum of 10 minutes.
The correction will be carried out immediately by the teacher in the classroom, in order to allow those who wish to have an oral exam to improve the score obtained or obtain a passing grade in case of obtaining scores close to 18 (16 or 17).
Each student will have the opportunity to view the test after the result has been assigned to understand the nature of any errors made and to be able to discuss them with the teacher.

Support activities

The teacher is available for meetings outside of lessons to discuss any doubts, perplexities or questions relating to the topics covered by the module and which will be the subject of the exam.

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
• Go to Moodle
• Register for the course
• Enrolled students
• Invia email agli studenti registrati
• Export table