PHARM 3010 - Pharmacology: Drug Action and Discovery
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2017
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PHARM 3010 Course Pharmacology: Drug Action and Discovery Coordinating Unit Medical Sciences Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 6 Contact Weekly lectures, tutorials, practical sessions Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites At least 6 units in either of Level II Biochemistry, Chemistry or Physiology courses or a minimum of 3 units in Level II Pharmacology or Level II Pathology Quota A quota will apply Assessment exam on lecture material, practical reports, assessment test Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Ian Musgrave
Course Coordinator: Dr Ian Musgrave
Phone: +61 8 8313 3905
Email: ian.musgrave@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Room S515, Medical School South
Additional Academic Staff
Dr Scott Smid
Phone: +61 8 8313 5287
Email: scott.smid@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Room N531, Medical School North
Dr Abdallah Salem
Phone: +61 8 8313 4327
Email: abdallah.salem@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Room N506, Medical School North
Dr Janet Coller
Phone: +61 8 8313 3906
Email: janet.coller@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Room N515, Medical School North
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1 Recognise the fundamental principles of drug actions at their target sites (eg. receptors, enzymes etc) 2 Describe the different types of pharmacodynamic interactions of drugs with receptors and apply quantitative methods to analyse such interactions 3 Explain the functioning of the autonomic nervous system at a pharmacological, anatomical and physiological level, with an integrated approach to its role in physiological homeostasis 4 Compare the functional roles of selected central nervous system transmitters and be able to list clinically important drugs acting at these pharmacological systems 5 Describe the processes and staging of drug discovery 6 Choose a relevant experimental system to test experimental hypotheses (e.g. in vitro or in vivo; animal species etc) 7 Design experiments which are properly controlled and which use appropriate statistical methods of data analysis 8 Work co-operatively in a small group setting to conduct experiments, generate, analyse and interpret experimental data 9 Consider ethical issues when designing experiments using humans or animals 10 Consider the importance of method validation, and the recognition of experimental errors University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Deep discipline knowledge
- informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
- acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
- accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
1,2,3,4,5 Critical thinking and problem solving
- steeped in research methods and rigor
- based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
- demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
4,6,7,10 Teamwork and communication skills
- developed from, with, and via the SGDE
- honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
- encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
8 Career and leadership readiness
- technology savvy
- professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
- forward thinking and well informed
- tested and validated by work based experiences
1-10 Intercultural and ethical competency
- adept at operating in other cultures
- comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
- able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
- demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
9 Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
- open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
- able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
Textbook: Rang H.P., Dale, M.M., Ritter, J.M and Flower, R.J. and Henderson, G. Pharmacology, 7th Ed., 2012. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-7020-3471-8.
Recommended Resources
Supplemental Textbooks:
Joel G. Hardman, Lee E. Limbird, consulting editor Alfred Goodman Gilman. Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 11th Ed., New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.
Katzung B.G. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 10th Ed., New York: Prentice Hall, 2007.
Julien, Robert M. Title: A Primer of Drug Action, 11th Ed. Worth Publishers.
Online Learning
All course materials will be provided online via MyUni, including lecture notes in either pdf or powerpoint format, relevant lab and tutorial handouts and other supporting materials as required. Audio recordings to lectures may be provided at the discretion of academic staff. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course is comprised of a combination of didactic lectures, interactive tutorial sessions and prescribed laboratory group-based practical sessions. Tutorials are designed to support the major learning objectives set in the lecture content and require student interaction. Group-based laboratory practicals are designed to reinforce and extend on learning provided in the themed lecture content as well as providing an understanding and proficiency in research methods and experimental design, data analysis and write-up.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements. The total weekly workload for this course is 24 hours per week; as a guide it is comprised of the following activities:
Lectures including preparation: 6 hours p.w.
Tutorials including preparation: 6 hours p.w.
Laboratory practicals including preparation and report writing: 10 hours p.w.
Exam and test revision: 2 hours p.w.Learning Activities Summary
Pharmacodyamics, 4 lectures – Dr Janet Coller Transmitter Systems & Drug Action, 3 lectures – Dr Scott Smid; 3 lectures – Dr Abdallah Salem
Receptors & Signal Transduction – 6 lectures, Dr Ian Musgrave
Drug Abuse and Addiction – 3 lectures- Dr Abdallah Salem; 3 lectures -Dr Janet Coller
Drug Discovery (Preclinical) 6 lectures - Dr Scott Smid; 3 lectures- Dr Ian Musgrave
Tutorial classes are based on the themed lecture content above and are usually set to follow the completion of lecture delivery within the prescribed theme. Additional tutorial content is delivered in the areas of drug calculations and dilutions and biostatistics, which are topics that reinforce aspects of teaching in the practical classes.
Practical classes:
Session 1- Analytical (quantitative) Methodology
Session 2- Agonist/Antagonist activity in isolated tissues
Session 3- Receptor tolerance
Session 4- Adrenoceptors
Session 5- Receptors & Signal Transduction
Session 6- Drug actions In Vivo CNS I
Session 7- Drug actions In Vivo CNS II
Week Topic Lecturer Week 1 Pharmacodynamics Janet Coller Week 2 Pharmacodynamics Janet Coller Week 3 Transmitter systems and drug action Scott Smid Week 4 Transmitter systems and drug action Abdallah Salem Week 5 Receptors and Signal transduction Ian Musgrave Week 6 Receptors and Signal transduction Ian Musgrave Week 7 Drug Abuse and Addiction Abdallah Salem Week 8 Drug Abuse and Addiction Janet Coller Week 9 Chemotherapy Scott Smid Week 10 Drug Discovery Scott Smid, Ian Musgrave Week 11 Drug Discovery Ian Musgrave Week 12 Drugs Discovery Scott Smid Specific Course Requirements
Laboratory Conduct
- PROTECTIVE CLOTHING (LABORATORY COATS and SAFETY GLASSES) MUST BE WORN IN THE LABORATORY. Thongs should not be worn, and bare feet are absolutely prohibited (danger from glass and spillage).
- Wash your hands before meals or on leaving the laboratory for any reason.
- All possible precautions should be taken when handling body fluid, to prevent spread of any type of infection. These are:
- prevent aerosol production (e.g. never mix the fluids with hot water)
- use disposable gloves;
- wash hands after handling biological samples;
- Avoid contaminating your hands, face or clothes, or the benches, chairs, stools, notebooks, floors, door-handles, switches, gas, water, pressure, vacuum or other taps, with animal excreta, toxins, chemicals or drugs. Other people have to handle things you may have touched. Don't suck pencils or anything similar in the laboratory.
- No food or drink should be consumed or brought into the laboratory.
- No smoking should take place in the laboratory.
- All solutions should be treated with care. Any material, dry or in solution, spilt on to the bench, the floor, or the hands should be cleaned up at once with disposable paper towels. Spills should be cleaned up immediately and hands washed after any inadvertent contact.
- No drug or syringe must leave the department for any reason.
- All sharps (hypodermic needles, scalpel blades) must be placed in the yellow sharps disposal bins placed around the laboratory.
- Solid waste should be placed in the appropriate bins, not in the sink.
- Students should pay particular attention to the care of animals. The ethical aspects of using animals and techniques for handling and injecting animals will be demonstrated.
- Any equipment failure or other faults should be reported to a demonstrator or to a technician.
- At the conclusion of the experiment, it is the student’s responsibility to tidy the work space and to ensure that tubes, tips etc are disposed of in the appropriate bins provided.
No unauthorised persons are to visit students while working in the laboratory.
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Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning Outcome(s) being addressed Final exam Summative 50% 1-8 Assessment Test I (Lecture content) Summative 10% 1-8 Assessment Test II (Practical content) Summative 10% 8-10 Laboratory Practical Reports Summative 30% 8-10 Assessment Related Requirements
Important notes on Laboratory Practical Assessment
In this course emphasis is placed on competence in laboratory practicals. Attendance is compulsory and a failure to attend a minimum number of practical sessions may impact on your ability to successfully complete the pharmacology course. If you miss more than two practical sessions for the semester you may be at risk of not completing the course requirements. Due to the nature of our lab practicals it is impossible to reschedule practical classes (i.e. you cannot make them up until the course is next run in the following year). If you have a minor study clash (eg. of not more than 1 hour) you should discuss this with the course coordinator in advance, as a reasonable alternative arrangement may be made where possible.
If you miss a practical session e.g. from illness, you are required to present medical or compassionate certification. Such certificates need to be provided to The Course Coordinator directly within one week of the practical session date. Submission of a practical report without a valid certificate will result in a 0 mark accorded.
Assessment Detail
Final exam: summative; due at end of semester; 50% weighting.
Assessment test I: summative; due week following mid-semester break.
Assessment test II: summative; due from weeks 10-12.
Laboratory Practical reports: formative & summative; due weekly from semester weeks 2-9; 30% weighting.
Final Exam
Marks attained during a 3 hour written paper held during exam week at the end of semester will test a student’s understanding of the knowledge of lecture and tutorial content in its entirety, as assessed using a combination of multiple choice, short answer and essay-style questions.
Coursework and Practical Component:
The remaining 50% of the final grade is assigned on the basis of performance during the practical course (based on laboratory reports) in addition to Assessment Tests I (all lecture material delivered prior to mid-semester break) and II (written test on theory and experimental design specifically related to laboratory practicals).
Assessment Tests:
There will be two Assessment Tests during Semester 1. They will be based on lecture and practical material, respectively. They will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer questions.
Test I covers lecture and tutorial content only from week 1 to the mid-semester break. It is normally held either just prior to, or immediately following, the mid semester break. It provides a useful mid-way guide to your progress in understanding course material.
Test II covers aspects of practical theory from the Practical Sessions. This is written test based on your comprehension of experimental design, analysis and interpretation of data specifically related to laboratory practicals. You do not need to memorise actual raw data from your lab sessions in this test.
aw data from your lab sessions in this test.Submission
All written submissions (e.g. practical reports) must be accompanied by a signed cover sheet. Proforma cover sheets will be available for download off MyUni. Mail boxes for written submission are located near on level 1, Medical School North.
Late submissions of any student work are not acceptable. Coursework received after the deadline will be penalised as follows:10% of total available points will be penalised per day (24 hour period or fraction thereof). An automatic zero mark will be applied after 7 days.
If you miss an assessment test e.g. from illness, you are required to present medical or compassionate certification to be eligible to sit a supplementary test. Such certificates need to be provided to The Course Coordinator directly within one week of the test date. The date and time of the supp. test is then determined by the Course Coordinator and is not negotiable. Students will be informed of the supp. test date by email.
Turn-around times for marking lab practical reports and marked assessment tests are normally 1-2 weeks from date of submission or sitting.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
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