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PHRM19001 - Pharmacology and Toxicology

General Information

Unit Synopsis

Students will study the fundamental principles of pharmacology and selective toxicity, and examine the main processes by which drugs and toxins are absorbed, transported, metabolised and excreted. In the pharmacology component, the mechanism of action of some major drug groups used in the treatment of disorders in the autonomic nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract, and the cardiovascular and pulmonary system will be examined at the drug-receptor level. Pharmacokinetics, receptor selectivity, efficacy and the optimum route of administration of drugs will be considered.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 3
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite

BMED19003 Clinical Biochemistry 

or

prerequisites for CB77 students: BMSC11005 Foundations of Biochemistry and BMSC12007 Neurological Physiology and Measurement and CHIR12002 Neuroanatomy and Systemic Pathology

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

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Residential School Compulsory Residential School
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Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2024

There are no availabilities for this unit on or after Term 3 - 2024

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Written Assessment 10%
2. Practical and Written Assessment 20%
3. Practical and Written Assessment 10%
4. Online Quiz(zes) 10%
5. Examination 50%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2014 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 74.19% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 73.81% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Course evaluations.
Feedback
Easy to follow Moodle site and excellent responses to questions from the academic team.
Recommendation
Continue providing prompt feedback.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Course evaluations.
Feedback
ECHO360 video lectures are the best. I can watch them when I need to and I don't have to take time out to attend compulsory lectures if I can't make it - it helps me to review the content if I need to.
Recommendation
Continue the ECHO360 video delivery.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Course evaluations
Feedback
The practical components of this course were thoroughly enjoyable, and I felt they were a very functional way to relate to the theoretical aspect of the course.
Recommendation
Refined delivery of both the CAL sessions, laboratory tasks and online laboratory activities.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Course evlauations
Feedback
Improve return of assignment feedback.
Recommendation
Assessment item changes and new feedback techniques to be trialled.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Course evaluations.
Feedback
Engagement by academic team was excellent - topics and research links were current and interesting.
Recommendation
Continue the enhanced Moodle posting for class engagement
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. describe and recognise the differing ways in which drugs and other chemicals act and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of drug/toxin interactions which affect living organisms (general aim of pharmacology)
  2. recall the basic principles of how and where drugs and toxins act (receptor activity), and the mechanisms responsible for their actions, including: a. the process of drug development from the identification of lead compounds through clinical trials to public release. b. the molecular properties that contribute to the effects of drugs and toxins, and some of the methods for developing new drugs. c. the principles of selectivity of drug action and of how these not only underlie adverse reactions to drugs and chemicals, but can assist the design of novel and improved drugs.
  3. understand the various factors which determine the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs and toxins, including: a. how the body modifies the effects of drugs, and how drugs are used in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease. b. the risks and hazards associated with exposure to environmental, industrial and other toxins.
  4. review the sites and mechanisms of actions of endogenous neurotransmitters and drugs which modify these processes (examples - autonomic nervous system, noradrenaline)
  5. recall and classify the major groups of drugs with respect to pathophysiology, actions and therapeutic applications (examples - cardiovascular, central nervous system and chemotherapy)
  6. appraise the scientific literature (including journal articles, texts and commercial resources to locate) and pharmaceutical and promotional material, and communicate this knowledge and understanding to your peers and the wider community via assessment items such as poster presentations and laboratory reports
  7. employ a number of computer software programs to analyse data, create tables, and graphs, and synthesise such information into various formats for presentation (Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint)
  8. perform basic pharmacological laboratory experimentation using systems such as isolated organ baths which includes by way of practical experimentation to dispense and correctly make up drug solutions/dilutions safely and in accordance with workplace health and safety regulations.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Written Assessment • • • • • •
2 - Practical and Written Assessment • • • • • •
3 - Practical and Written Assessment • • • •
4 - Online Quiz(zes) • • • •
5 - Examination • • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Communication • • • • • • • •
2 - Problem Solving • • • • • • • •
3 - Critical Thinking • • • • • • •
4 - Information Literacy • • • • • • •
5 - Team Work •
6 - Information Technology Competence • •
7 - Cross Cultural Competence • •
8 - Ethical practice • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment • • • • • •
2 - Practical and Written Assessment • • • • • • • •
3 - Practical and Written Assessment • • •
4 - Online Quiz(zes) • • • •
5 - Examination • • •