Description
Period: 3 September 2018 - 21 September 2018
Clinical pharmacology is the study of drugs in humans. It is underpinned by the basic science of pharmacology, with added focus on the application of pharmacological principles and methods in the real world (from R&D to patient care). The discipline is heavily involved in the research, development an application of (new) medicines. Over the last two decades the discipline has evolved considerably due to a couple of simultaneously occurring developments.
Each of these developments will be addressed in the course. It will for instance be reviewed why there has been an exponential increase in the identification of possible ‘drugable’ targets and why this has not necessarily translated into drug targets. Another interesting development is the greater emphasis on biomarkers to assess drug action in humans. This development, its advantages and its problems will be discussed. The role of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics in current drug development as well as the exercises that are performed to link drug concentrations to drug effects will be addressed in this course. These developments will pave the road to the era of ‘personalized medicine’. This term has been coined to indicate personally tailored treatment to each individual patient. The aim of the course is gaining more insight in the application of novel techniques that are applied in pre-clinical and clinical drug research. Finally, the course aims to make the participants familiar with the current legal and regulatory requirements for drug research in humans.
Course Objectives
The main objective of the course is gaining more insight in the application of novel techniques that are applied in pre-clinical and clinical drug research.
As a result of this module you:
understand basic pharmacological principles from pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
aware of exponential increase in the identification of possible ‘drugable’ targets and why this has not necessarily translated into drug targets.
know the process of drug development and can distinguish the different phases
understand the basic concept of pharmacogenomics and know its implications for pharmacotherapy
obtains knowledge and experience in the application of novel techniques that are applied in pre-clinical and clinical drug research
able to discuss advantages and problems following the growing emphasis on biomarkers to assess drug action in humans
are able to set-up a simple clinical trial in which the student is able to: 1. Write a research synopsis 2. Able to conduct relevant research activities related to a self-made research plan, thus executing basic protocol related activities adequately as well as analyzing the gathered data 3. Able to analyze and present gathered relevant data and thereby applying scientific sound research techniques
understand basic clinical pharmacological principles and communicate this knowledge to laymen in a state-of-the art way
Timetable
All course and group schedules are published on our LUMC scheduling website or on the LUMC scheduling app.
Mode of instruction
The course program will consist of plenary (informative) lectures, workgroups, self-study assignments and a classroom experiment.
Although some drugs and treatments of diseases will be discussed, the course will not emphasize on pharmacotherapeutics in a broad sense.
Course load
Total course load is the amount of EC’s multiplied with 28 hours.
Assessment method
The final grade is composed of four parts: an individual mark for the quiz about the basic pharmacological principles and drug development (1/4), an individual mark for the protocol/review assignment and participation in week 1 (1/4), a mark for the final presentation (1/4) and a mark for the report (1/4).
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used during this course.
Reading list
Will be distributed during the course.
Registration
Registration for FOS courses, H2W, Scientific Conduct, How to start, Course on Animal Science , and CRiP and Adv concepts courses takes place in lottery rounds in the beginning of July. After the lottery rounds: if you want to register for a course you are kindly asked to contact the student administration at masterbw-courses@lumc.nl.