Students
Course Descriptions
PHAR 600 Principles of Drug Discovery
(3 credits) and
PHAR 601 Principles of Drug Development
(3 credits)
Describes the interrelationship among disciplines of the pharmaceutical sciences, and establishes the basic theoretical background essential for identifying molecules that are targeted for the drug design and development process. Emphasizes ability development; content progresses, beginning with basic cell biology, defining molecular targets, traditional drug design and optimization of drug structure, continuing with principles of pharmacology, pharmaceutics, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, and drug metabolism. Also covers integrative competency in the final module. The courses are taken during the first two semesters and are divided into seven integrated modules. These modules relate the various disciplines within the pharmaceutical sciences to the drug discovery, drug design, and development process.
PHAR 602 Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics (3)
Focuses on drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion coupled with dosage and the parameters of clearance, volume of distribution, and bioavailability. These processes determine the concentration of drug at the site of action in the body. Covers the quantitative relationship between dose and effect as a framework to interpret measurement of drug concentrations in biological fluids, and pharmacokinetic principles using mathematical processes and descriptive parameters that describe the time course of drugs in the systemic circulation and the relationship of drug concentrations to observed effect.
PHAR 608 Introduction to Laboratory Research (1)
Students become familiar with research conducted by departmental faculty members. Rotations through the laboratory of a faculty member help students in their selection of a doctoral dissertation project. The rotation includes library work and an opportunity for participation in the experimental aspects of research. Students must complete at least two laboratory rotations. Students meet with the chairs of all Research Focus Groups before selecting a rotation site.
PHAR 610 Pharmaceutical Formulation and Unit Processes (4)
Addresses the rational design and formulation of dosage forms, and the processes and equipment in their large-scale manufacture. Consideration is on to how the interplay of formulation and process variables affects both the manufacturability of the dosage form and its performance as a drug delivery system.
PHAR 620 Modern Methods of Drug Delivery (4)
Focuses on the rationale for existing and future drug delivery systems. Students explore underlying physical, chemical, and biological basis for each system and identify benefits and drawbacks. Examples of delivery systems include inhalation aerosols, transdermal patches, microspheres, implants, and tablets. Emphasis is on the biopharmaceutics, and transport properties and barriers associated with each method of delivery. The course also stresses written and oral presentation skills through student presentations and paper critique sessions.
PHAR 628 Bioanalytical and Pharmacological Methods (1-3)
Covers theory and applications of separation and analysis techniques used for low molecular weight compounds, such as most drugs, or for larger biopolymers, such as proteins and nucleic acids. Also covers the separation of chiral compounds, and assay requirements and techniques for the sensitive and accurate measurement of drugs and metabolites in biological matrices, with emphasis on pharmacokinetics and biopharmaceutical applications.
PHAR 638 Pharmacometrics and Experimental Design (3)
Covers the theoretical and practical application of statistics and experimental design to help students use tools in research problems. The class discusses and uses computer programs to analyze data representing actual experimental situations.
PHAR 639 Molecular Spectroscopy and Imaging (1-3)
Introduces students to spectrometric techniques for the elucidation of molecular structure and to the analysis of pharmaceutically important materials. The methodologies covered include ultraviolet visible, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The class includes discussions of physical principles, instrumentation involved, exercises in the interpretation of spectrometric data, and examples of applications.
PHAR 653 and 654 Advanced Pharmacology I and II (4, 4)
Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and physiological effect of drugs on biological systems. The course covers mechanisms by which pharmacological agents interact with the living organism to provide the student with a rational basis for investigations in biomedical research. Topics include the pharmacodynamics of drugs influencing the central and peripheral nervous system, and the endocrine, renal, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. Lectures supplement weekly conferences and discussion groups.
PHAR 702 Theoretical Aspects of Solid Dosage Forms (3)
A survey of the performance and processing of solid dosage forms. As most pharmaceuticals are prepared from powders, emphasis is on identifying, measuring, and controlling those properties that decide the processing characteristics of powdered materials.
PHAR 707 Drug Transport and Metabolism (4)
This course will provide basic knowledge about drug absorption at different sites in the human body (e.g. intestine, blood-brain barrier, kidney, liver) and the physicochemical and pharmaceutical factors, as well as pathophysiologic conditions, that influence drug penetration. This course will allow the students to understand the choice of a particular absorption route and dosage form. Furthermore, the interplay of drug metabolism and drug transport will be discussed.
PHAR 708 Comprehensive Exam Seminar (1)
As part of the advancement to PhD candidacy comprehensive exam, students make an oral presentation of their dissertation research proposal at the beginning of their third year.
PHAR 709 Departmental Seminars (1)
Attendance of Departmental seminars is required. Guest speakers are brought in to give Departmental seminars on recent developments in all aspects of pharmaceutical sciences. Students will have the opportunity to give one departmental seminar after they have completed their comprehensive exam and before their dissertation defense.
PHAR 729 Principles of Drug Action (3)
Advanced study of the principles of drug action, carcinogenesis, immunology, the molecular view of pharmacology, and theoretical principles and practical applications of molecular modeling. A computer laboratory is associated with molecular modeling aspect.
PHAR 747 Advanced Pharmacokinetics (3)
A detailed study of the principles of drug transport, distribution, biotransformation, binding and excretion, with emphasis on quantitative aspects and measurement of these processes. The course is designed to provide students with an advance understanding of the mathematical concepts, physiological concepts and system software to characterize pharmacokinetic processes. The prerequisite to the course is Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics. The course focuses on providing a foundation in understanding various modeling approaches including Data Analysis techniques, model identifiability, development and validation. The use of weighting in pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis will be presented, along with a hands-on use of current pharmacokinetic data analysis programs (i.e, ADAPT II, Winonlin, NONMEM). Physiological Based Pharmacokinetic modeling, Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis, Statistical Moment Theory and Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Analysis of direct and indirect modeling. Students will learn the theoretical concepts that underlie the data analysis techniques used to describe pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes. Students will be provided with hands-on data analysis problems with many of the current pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic packages.
PHAR 751 Drug Design (3)
Applications of chemical and biological principles to the rational design of drugs. Topics include targets of biologically active molecules, approaches to studying ligand and target interactions, overview of drug discovery, agents acting on specific targets, combinatorial chemistry, computation chemistry, and structure-activity relationships.
PHAR 858 Special Topics (1-6)
Students examine an issue of pharmaceutical importance through readings, discussions, and limited investigations. The student and instructor decide the research problem and amount of credit before the start of the study.
PHAR 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-3)