Course Descriptions

In this class, students acquire skills to (1) make a scientific presentation and (2) learn to understand a scientific presentation. Also, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) discussions are an important component of the class.

This course focuses on a basic scientific understanding of the main processes underlying drug action. It briefly covers all important aspects of both the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic phases including (i)a review of the receptor concept and related general principles; (ii) a detailed discussion of quantitative models of receptor occupancy, agonism, and antagonism; (iii) basic concepts related to absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) processes and pharmacokinetics; and (iv) illustrative molecular mechanisms of action for a few representative drug classes.

Directed readings on subjects not ordinarily treated in depth in specific courses. Course may also consist of special laboratory problems.

The course covers cardiovascular pharmacology, necessary cardiovascular physiology and anatomy, and the function and pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system. The students learn about the function and energetics of the heart and how it is changed in cardiac disease.

Pharmacological treatment of many diseases is based on inhibiting or stimulating certain enzymes, receptors, and channels, generally referred to as “drug targets.” Pathological events can be triggered by mutations, changes in gene expression, and activity of various proteins. The crucial step in devising a therapeutic strategy is to decide which target to select for manipulation by a pharmacological agent. What makes a target successful, i.e. amenable to pharmacological intervention? How does one discover and validate such a novel drug target? This course will analyze examples of cellular pathways that have been successfully targeted by FDA-approved drugs or are currently under investigation. The classes are taught by several MCP faculty who are experts in signal transduction, gene expression, cell proliferation, cancer biology, and other cellular processes. One important aspect of this class is that the students will learn to apply general principles of target identification and validation to their areas of interest and/or ongoing research projects in their labs. The knowledge gained from the lectures and critical discussions in this course will help students design their dissertation research and aid in their future careers.

This course will address the current state of the art in general principles, technologies, and available resources used in the process of drug discovery. It will be taught collectively by MCP faculty who have expertise and are currently involved in drug discovery projects. The presentations and faculty-led discussions will cover topics such as assay development, the criteria for suitability of an assay for high-throughput screening (HTS), and the necessary controls to validate the “hits.” Pharmacological characterization of novel compounds (EC50, stability, toxicity, etc.) will also be covered. Students will also learn about the fundamentals of the current in silico drug design methods and virtual screening based on the structure of the protein target and structure-activity relationships (SAR) in the ligands. In addition to traditional small molecule chemicals, the faculty will also discuss other types of therapeutics, such as engineered growth factors, gene therapy agents, and innovative approaches like targeted protein degradation. The technical knowledge about the principles of the drug discovery “pipeline” will be complemented with relevant economic, translational, and regulatory aspects. In this class, students will propose designing a drug (a small molecule or biological agent) discovery project applied to their area of interest.

Required for all Ph.D. candidates. The student will enroll for credits as determined by the Office of Graduate Studies but not less than a total of 24. No more than 12 hours of research may be taken in a regular semester, and no more than six in a summer session.

Required for all Ph.D. candidates. The student will enroll for credits as determined by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Students must be registered in the semester they plan to defend. This course is used to establish research in residence for the Ph.D. after the student has been enrolled for the permissible cumulative total in appropriate doctoral research. Credit is not granted. Students may be regarded as full-time residence as determined by the Dean of the Graduate School.