Doctoral / PHD Programs in Molecular Pharmacology

The Therapeutic Sciences PhD Program was developed to be an expansion and integration of our longstanding PhD programs in Molecular Pharmacology Physiology (MPP) and Biotechnology (Biotech). Although the Therapeutic Sciences PhD still covers pharmacology, physiology and biotechnology, it also includes other fields that are part of the broader, expanding discipline of therapeutics. For example, the program includes studies of drug targets in the immune system that are important in treating infectious diseases, characterization of brain mechanisms of addiction with an eye toward therapy, studies of molecular interactions in disease processes, understanding and preventing cancer growth and metastasis, and applications of cell and tissue-based therapies, to name a few of the research foci. Thus, TSGP offers advanced training appropriate for academic and research careers in the fields of biology and medical sciences with a focus on determining disease mechanisms and drug actions, and developing novel therapies. The PhD program is funded in part by an NIH training grant (T32) through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Program in Pharmacological Sciences.

Attainment of the Ph.D. degree normally requires four to five years for Ph.D. candidates and three to four years of graduate work for M.D. Ph.D. candidates.

Pharmacology. The field of Pharmacology offers an intensive program of study and research, emphasizing, the biochemical, biophysical, molecular, and clinical aspects of pharmacology. Current areas of research include drug-receptor interactions, ion channels, signal transduction, and cell activation. The field prepares each student for a productive career in biomedical research and teaching. As a member of the Biomedical and Biological Sciences Graduate Program (BBS), Pharmacology is part of a vibrant graduate community in the Veterinary College. The program is uniquely positioned to train students in pharmacology through its integration of biomedical science expertise in a veterinary college with outstanding physical and biological science programs on a single campus. Pharmacology is one of five graduate fields associated with the Biological & Biomedical Sciences (BBS) Graduate Program. As an umbrella program, the BBS fosters an atmosphere of collaboration, focusing on the interface between scientific research and clinical practice as well as a commitment to animal and human health. The Graduate Fields associated with the BBS Program share a set of values and expectations in the training of PhD students. Our goal is to maximize the effectiveness of the Fields while maintaining their unique identities and structures. The following graduate fields are members of the BBS Graduate Program:.

A collage of the active graduate students in 2020.

The study of how drugs or other agents affect cells and living organisms is a foundational science that intersects with many disciplines in basic science and human disease. Our graduate program emulates the breadth of pharmacology by providing our students with a solid foundation and broad training in cellular and organismal mechanisms, as well as translational science. Our graduate program has recently been re-vamped to create a modern, vibrant program that is well-aligned with both the historical foundations and new strategic vision of the department.

Our program is ideal for students who are interested in studying basic cellular mechanisms with an emphasis on their application to human disease.

Although rigorous, our program is very flexible and individualized to each student, allowing all students to gain a strong foundation in pharmacology, while adapting the specific educational components to the specific research interests of each student. Training in the first year consists of required core courses and research rotations in participating laboratories. In the second year, students begin their thesis research and continue to take their remaining core courses as well as elective courses relevant to their thesis work. At the end of the second year, students take their qualifying exam, for which they prepare and defend a research proposal that is related to their intended thesis research. Subsequent years are devoted to the research, writing and defense of their PhD thesis.

Get information on applying or answers to questions the Molecular Pharmacology Therapeutics Graduate Program.

Admissions Requirements for the Graduate Major in Molecular and Medical Pharmacology.

After exploring options and choosing a specific program, follow the steps on our University’s graduate application process:.

General application process for all UCLA Graduate Programs.

See UCLA minimum requirements for all graduate program applicants.

M.S.: The M.S. degree in Molecular and Medical Pharmacology is offered only under special circumstances for example, to those who already have a doctoral degree in another field and who wish to obtain additional training in pharmacology, or to students who are already in the program and, for some reason, cannot continue for the Ph.D.

Ph.D.: Prerequisite courses include basic biology, basic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and laboratory. Courses in computer science, engineering, genetics, molecular biology, physical chemistry, and physics are encouraged. In suitable cases, students who have course deficiencies may be admitted to graduate status, but any deficiencies must be remedied within a specified time.

The Molecular and Medical Pharmacology offers two M.D. Ph.D. Programs concurrently with the UCLA School of Medicine. One is the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) in which candidates are medical students that have been accepted into MSTP by the medical school. The second is the Specialty Training and Advanced Research (STAR) Program in which candidates are post-M.D. housestaff (interns, residents, or fellows) who have been accepted into the STAR Program by its selection committee.

Pharmacology is one of the most exciting areas of biomedical research because you can have a real impact on human health while working in the lab. Pharmacology is multidisciplinary, bringing together ideas from chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology and integrative biology to create a comprehensive framework for understanding and treating disease. Here, at the University of Michigan Pharmacology, we have assembled a diverse group of outstanding scientists who work together to advance the forefronts of new knowledge to develop novel therapeutic approaches for treatment of disease. There are a number of exciting opportunities for students to work with leaders in the field in one of the top Pharmacology departments in the world.

Docking 250 million molecules for new chemotypes with new GPCR pharmacology .

David Maguire, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Research, Pharmacology, University of Texas Health –San Antonio.

Biochemistry Molecular Pharmacology Education NYU Langone Health.

Our rigorous training programs help students and postdocs launch scientific careers.

Earn an interdisciplinary PhD in the biomedical sciences.

Traditional pharmacology programs have focused on mechanisms of drug action, much as traditional physiology programs have addressed the functions of organ systems and tissues. Our program combines the fundamentals of these fields with cutting-edge approaches to understand cellular signaling at the molecular level, and the application of this understanding to the physiological mechanisms of drugs and drug targets.

Our students learn to use advanced biochemical, molecular, and genetic research techniques to answer essential scientific questions the underpinnings of human health.

Through this integrative approach, we give our graduates a unique perspective based on a cohesive understanding of how research translates from molecules and cells to tissues and organisms.

Our students can expect to graduate ready to embark upon fulfilling careers in academia, pharmaceutical industry, regulatory science, or elsewhere.

Areas of research covered in the program, active laboratory listings.

Graduate Student in the Laboratory of Dr. Andrew P.

What I like best our program is the diversity of research opportunities and the courses that us students are allowed to take. The program does a great job of allowing students to explore their interests and be able to find themselves as aspiring scientists and follow their passions.

What I like best the program are the people! You will not find a friendlier environment to be in. Everyone really cares you and wants you to succeed as you move through your education and scientific career.

What I like best the program is the amazing collaborative environment. While the labs in the department vary greatly on their field of research, the robust collaboration between groups is astonishing. Additionally, PharmPhys is a top notch department for those who want to study electrophysiology and channelopathies.

Fogaca, PhD February 1, 2023 to the Pharmacology and Physiology.

The program in Biomolecular Pharmacology at Boston University School of Medicine was honored in July 1997 with the award of a National Institute of General Medical Sciences T32 Instructional Training Grant (Principal Investigator, David H. In the 19-plus years since its inception, this University-wide program has flourished, providing a unique interdisciplinary and interdepartmental learning environment for doctoral students that spans the campuses of Boston University, giving access to some of the most outstanding laboratories in the fields of cancer, cardiovascular biology, metabolomics, neuropharmacology, neuroscience, and drug development.

Pharmacology has historically been an interdisciplinary field, positioned at the point of convergence of physiology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, behavioral science, and medicine. The pharmacology of this century will bring together an even wider range of disciplines, combining traditional aspects of pharmacology with novel approaches drawn from other disciplines, such as biophysics, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, bioimaging, and molecular genetics.

The curriculum formalizes interdisciplinary pre-doctoral training in molecular and translational pharmacology. Students receive formal training in the principles of molecular pharmacology and drug discovery and development, as well as in molecular genetic, biophysical, and structural approaches to the study of drug-receptor interactions. A major benefit of the program is to expand opportunities for students to carry out research in these areas. This program produces scientists who have an understanding of and firsthand experience of a broad range of technologies at the cutting edge of research in pharmacology.

The major focus of the training program is the development of expertise in basic and translational research, including effective scientific speaking and writing skills. Students receive guidance throughout the program in the development of their professional skills, including planning of career progression. The average tenure of PhD candidates in the Biomolecular Pharmacology training program is five years. The first two years of the program emphasize formal coursework designed to build understanding of the fundamental principles and methodology of pharmacology as it applies to biomedical research and to drug development and administration. In addition, upon matriculation, students begin a sequence of four required laboratory rotations with outstanding mentors in areas such as addiction, aging, cancer, cardiology, drug design and delivery, epilepsy, learning and memory, metabolomics, nanomedicine, neurodegeneration, and neurodevelopment using models as diverse as C. elegans, rodents, zebrafish, and human subjects. The laboratory rotations provide students with the opportunity to investigate potential areas for dissertation research while enhancing the breadth of their training. Students participate in an industry research training opportunity the summer after the first year of study, which provides first-hand experiences outside of the academic environment for developing future career planning with help from the program’s mentorship team.

Since the inception of the Biomolecular Pharmacology training program, most students have entered through the Pharmacology Department, but they can also enter through other departments or programs, such as the Graduate Program for Neuroscience. Students typically complete the following courses in their first two years of study: Protein Structure, Catalysis and Interaction Structure and Function of the Genome Mechanisms of Cell Communication Physiology of Specialized Cells Molecular and Translational Pharmacology Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology Laboratory Techniques in Modern Pharmacology Systems Pharmacology and Therapeutics I and II and Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences. During the last three years in training, students focus on the completion of their dissertation research. Students are also required to complete a minimum of 6 credits of advanced coursework and report on their dissertation research in informal (graduate student forums) and formal settings. They are also expected to participate in activities consistent with developing their professional skills to enter the biomedical workforce. Details of these activities are provided below.

MD PhD candidates enter the PhD component of their training program after completing the first two years of the MD curriculum. These students complete 10 credits of pharmacology core coursework, including Molecular and Translational Pharmacology, Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology, Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences, and 4 credits of electives. (Students who intend to pursue cancer research for their dissertation may substitute Cancer Biology and Genetics for Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology.).

GMS FC 701, 702, 704 (6 cr) (required for program students who enter through the Pharmacology Department).

GMS PM 701 702 Molecular and Translational Neurobiology and Pharmacology (4 cr).

GMS PM 801 802 Systems Pharmacology Therapeutics (4 cr).

GMS PM 932 Workshops on Research Proposal Development in Pharmacology (2 cr) (required for program students taking qualifying examination through Pharmacology).

GMS PM 710 Laboratory Techniques in Modern Pharmacology (2 cr fall, 2 cr spring) this is a two-semester course with 7-week laboratory rotations to help identify a dissertation research mentor.

Students are also accepted into the training program through departments other than Pharmacology and through programs such as the Graduate Program for Neuroscience. Each of these PhD-granting programs, like pharmacology, requires 64 credit hours for completion plus a qualifying examination and a successful oral dissertation defense. The Biomolecular Pharmacology Program works with these PhD-granting units to develop training in pharmacology that will enhance the environment of the individual PhD discipline as described below.

For pharmacology students conducting neuroscience-relevant dissertation research, the Biomolecular Pharmacology Training Program offers a specialization in neuroscience that is managed by the University-wide Graduate Program for Neuroscience. Students in Biomolecular Pharmacology take selected core neuroscience coursework with their student colleagues in the GPN program so that they emerge after training with a basic foundation in the field. Likewise, students in GPN receiving the PhD in neuroscience can choose to take selected core coursework with their student colleagues in the field of pharmacology, as discussed under Graduate Program for Neuroscience.

The goal of the joint program is to enhance interdisciplinary training and research and to provide an academic and research environment at Boston University that trains and inspires the pre-doctoral pharmacology student to pursue a career that is relevant to the treatment of nervous system disorders. The central element of this program is an intensive period of full-time research in biomedical neuroscience. Students benefit from and contribute to the cross-campus neuroscience community that is an integral part of Boston University.

Biomedical Engineering (BME) students with interest in the pharmacological sciences are encouraged to consider interdisciplinary training through participation in the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) PhD Interdepartmental Training Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology.

During the first year, pre-doctoral trainees enrolled through the Pharmacology Department register for two semesters of GMS PM 710 Laboratory Techniques in Modern Pharmacology, in which they complete three, or sometimes four, laboratory rotations of seven weeks each. This rotation experience provides exposure to a variety of experimental approaches to the study of pharmacology. Trainees are encouraged to select rotations in laboratories that approach problems from different perspectives, in keeping with the program’s fundamental goal of providing them a broad and complete understanding of research strategies that have been developed to address questions of pharmacological importance. Rotations are designed to be a teaching instrument and students are encouraged to obtain publication quality data. At the end of each semester, there is an additional course meeting at which students deliver presentations of their rotation experiences. Students receive a grade of Pass or Fail based upon their performance in research rotations and the grading of their written reports.

To broaden their experience on the range of pharmacological research and career opportunities that a PhD in pharmacology offers its alumni, trainees complete a 7-week rotation in an industrial laboratory, made available via BU partnerships with industry research groups.

The Biomolecular Pharmacology seminar program, supported by institutional sources and the endowed Sterling Drug Visiting Professorship, brings outstanding scientists to Boston University from throughout the US. All students are required to attend pharmacology seminars. In addition, students register for at least one semester of Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences. In this course, the seminar speaker attends student presentations of research paper(s) related to the speaker’s research. This course has proved to be highly successful in providing students with essential background to the seminar speaker’s work and thereby preparing the students to participate actively in the department seminar. Trainees also receive information seminars offered by other departments and are encouraged to attend those seminars relating to their area of research.

The written component of the examination is in the form of a 10-page research proposal on a topic selected by the student and in the format of an NRSA application. After passing the written examination, the student undergoes an oral examination by the Qualifying Examination Committee, designed to test the student’s ability to integrate information and reason experimentally.

Workshops are held during the Spring Semester of the second year to help pharmacology students prepare for the qualifying examination. (Students register for 2 credits of GMS PM 932 Workshops on Research Proposal Development in Pharmacology.) These workshops focus on the development of skill in preparing research proposals, including use of appropriate experimental design and statistical analysis. An objective of the workshops and the qualifying examination is to enhance student skill in preparing predoctoral fellowship applications and maximize the likelihood of awards.

Prior to selection of a research mentor, student progress is monitored by the Program Director, who serves as the first-year advisor for entering students, and by the course manager of the laboratory rotations course. In the fall of the third year, a Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC) is constituted for each student, which meets every semester (or frequently if necessary) through the remainder of the student’s graduate studies. After each meeting, the Dissertation Advisory Committee submits a written report on the student’s progress to the Program Director. Upon completion of the dissertation the Dissertation Defense Committee, usually the Dissertation Advisory Committee plus one or outside members, holds a pre-defense meeting to verify that the student is prepared to proceed to the dissertation defense.

Trainees are encouraged to develop their research presentation skills through participation in a variety of meetings, including the meetings of their laboratory research group, the Graduate Research Forum, and the Dissertation Advisory Committees, referred to above. A newly instituted student seminar program provides predoctoral and postdoctoral students an opportunity to present a short talk on their research to a broader audience at Boston University School of Medicine.

Trainees also participate in a variety of other interdisciplinary forums at Boston University for presentation and discussion of research. Students are expected to participate in the Henry I. Russek Student Achievement Day and Awards Program, organized by Shelley Russek, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Biology. Each year since 1995, 100 PhD and MD PhD students participate by presenting posters and supporting their fellow students. Students from each basic science department and degree-granting program are selected to receive a monetary award that acknowledges their dedication and research accomplishments. Prior to the awards ceremony, first-place awardees present their results in a slide format. All students in the training program participate in this event.

Students also are encouraged to participate in the Boston University Graduate Research Symposium. Awards are presented to students based on their abstracts and poster presentations. Students from the Biomolecular Pharmacology Program have an outstanding record of achievement at this meeting.

Trainees are also expected to present their research findings at national research meetings. Although graduate students tend to prefer the poster mode of presentation, all trainees are encouraged to give at least one oral talk at a national meeting. They are also encouraged to present research findings at regional and local meetings. Students selected for appointment to the Biomolecular Pharmacology Training Grant use the travel funds to help support attendance at regional and national meetings.

Individuals with baccalaureate degrees who meet the requirements of the participating departments are considered for acceptance into the pre-doctoral program. Training grant support is only awarded to PhD candidates who are US citizens or permanent residents. Candidates include PhD students enrolled through the Pharmacology and Biomedical Engineering Departments and the Graduate Program in Neuroscience, and MD PhD students enrolled at Boston University. The latter are eligible to receive a stipend only during their PhD training period, which is normally between the second and third years of medical training. Students who enter the Program through the Pharmacology or other departments of the Division of Medical Sciences are supported by funds from the Division of Medical Sciences in their first year of training, and are eligible for Training Grant support in their second or third year. Students who enter through departments on the Charles River campus are considered for Training Grant support after the first year of PhD training.

Highest priority is assigned to students who have identified pharmacology as their major field of interest by having enrolled in graduate training through the Biomolecular Pharmacology Program. Students who enter through the Graduate Program for Neuroscience or Biomedical Engineering and who exhibit a strong interest in pharmacology are eligible. Minority applicants are identified and given careful consideration.

The caliber and interests of the candidate are important considerations. Highest priority is assigned to students with the strongest and graduate academic record, including grade point average, letters of recommendation, research experience, interest in study of pharmacology at the molecular or integrative level, and desire to capitalize on the resources of the interdisciplinary components of the program.

Students supported by the training grant are expected to satisfy the requirements of the program and will be identified as trainees in Biomolecular Pharmacology throughout the duration of their graduate training regardless of sources of support in terminal years.

In exceptional cases, students are accepted into an MA degree program. The course requirements for MA candidates are 16 credits of formal coursework including Molecular and Translational Pharmacology, Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology, Current Topics in the Pharmacological Sciences, and one additional 2-credit advanced course (800-level) in Pharmacology. In addition, students are required to attend departmental seminars.

After satisfactorily completing the first-year curriculum with a GPA of B (3.0) or higher, an MA candidate can, with the approval of the advisor, the Graduate Education Committee, and the Department Chairman request a transfer into the PhD program by submitting a petition to the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences.

The MA degree requirements include preparation and submission of a thesis under the supervision of first and second readers. The thesis is based on the student’s original research, either library or laboratory based.

Students enrolled in the PhD program in pharmacology are expected to maintain a GPA of B (3.0) or higher. Students who fail to meet this standard will be considered for a terminal MA degree by the Graduate Education Committee. Students do not receive course credit for grades below B–, in accord with standards of the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. Student progress is facilitated by a Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC) that meets each semester, after completion of the PhD Qualifying Examination, to provide feedback. The Chair of the DAC, in consultation with the student, submits a written report after each semester meeting and also discusses with the student progress in career planning.

The graduate student representative is selected annually by the students. The committee meets regularly to review matters that relate directly to the program as described above and to make recommendations to the department chair.

For detailed descriptions of the academic programs in pharmacology, pharmacology and neurosciences, and pharmacology and biomedical engineering, refer to the department website.

MA, PhD and MA PhD Degree Curriculum in Pharmacology.

The Pharmacology offers training leading to MS, PhD, or MD PhD degrees for highly qualified post candidates committed to research careers in the biomedical sciences. Adequate preparation in the biological sciences, mathematics, organic chemistry, and physics or physical chemistry is a prerequisite for admission.

Students who desire the combined MD PhD degrees are admitted to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP, please see separate listing in this publication). These students participate in the two-year integrated preclinical curriculum of the School of Medicine (University Program), which features clinical correlation of basic biologic concepts. Combined degree students who select the PhD in pharmacology undertake a series of advanced courses, research rotations, preliminary examinations and dissertation research in the same manner as that described for the PhD program.

The Pharmacology occupies 25,000 net square feet distributed among several locations, namely the School of Medicine Harland Goff Wood Building and the adjacent Wood Research Tower, as well as facilities in the West Quad Bldg. Facilities include extensive chromatographic and tissue culture facilities, a transgenic mouse laboratory, imaging and confocal microscopy equipment, and ready access to specialized research techniques, including various aspects of recombinant DNA and hybridoma technology, in situ hybridization histochemistry, fluorescence cell sorting, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, and cryo electron microscopy.

Although training efforts by the Pharmacology are primarily directed toward the award of the PhD degree, training for the MS degree is offered also in a variety of contexts. For example, research assistants in the Department who seek educational advancement may pursue the MS degree via Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (coursework only). Medical students who seek to specialize in Pharmacology during the scholarly research component of their preclinical program may pursue the MS degree. Employees in the Biotechnology Industry may seek advanced training in Pharmacology by pursuing the MS degree at Case. Finally, a PhD candidate who is unable to complete the PhD requirements for extraordinary reasons may petition to have earned credits transferred to fulfill MS degree requirements.

Molecular Pharmacology is aimed at students who seek a Master’s Degree but do not intend to specialize in research following their Master’s work. To satisfy the requirement for a Comprehensive Exam for the MS Degree, students register for 1 credit of EXAM 600 during their final semester and sit for a integrative essay question-style examination on the content of the required coursework. A total of 30 credit hours are required (see below).

The advancement of understanding and practice of therapeutics is based on research. Therefore all students in degree programs in Pharmacology are expected to become involved in independent research and scholarship. With pre-approval of the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies, a student’s study plan may substitute additional specific advanced courses to replace PHRM 601 Independent Study and Research credits.

Principles of Pharmacology I: The Molecular Basis of Therapeutics (PHRM 401).

Principles of Pharmacology II: The Physiological Basis of Therapeutics (PHRM 402).

In addition to the course requirements below, candidates for this degree are required to submit an acceptable written thesis based on their original research, and register for at least 9 credit hours of PHRM 651 Thesis M.S. (master’s dissertation research). The acceptability of the thesis will be determined by an oral examination administered by the student’s Thesis Advisory Committee. As above, a minimum of 27 credit hours are required. For these students, passing the final exams in PHRM 401 Principles of Pharmacology I: The Molecular Basis of Therapeutics and PHRM 402 Principles of Pharmacology II: The Physiological Basis of Therapeutics satisfies the requirement for a Comprehensive Exam for the MS Degree.

For Program Admissions information and MD requirements, see MD Dual Degree Programs. A sample plan of study for the Pharmacology track is below.

Students seeking the PhD degree in Pharmacology are admitted into the Pharmacology through the administrative structure of Biomedical Sciences Training Program which provides an introduction to many related training areas within the biomedical field during the first year. PhD applicants may indicate Pharmacology as their primary program of interest (PPI) during the application process. Alternatively, admission may be through the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).

The PhD program is divided into three phases. The first phase allows students to follow an integrated first-year sequence of course work that involves a core curriculum in cell and molecular biology. Selection of a specific training program and thesis advisor is made before the end of the first year. The second phase involves a two part core course in the fundamentals of pharmacology, oral presentations, and laboratory experience, which is concluded with a comprehensive written exam designed to challenge students to key concepts in new contexts. Successful completion of this phase leads to admission to PhD candidacy.

After advancing to PhD candidacy, students enter one of four Research Interest Groups according to the interst of the student, the mentor and the anticipated nature of the thesis project. The four Interst Groups are: Cancer Therapeutics, Membrane Structural Biology and Pharmacology, Molecular Pharmacology and Cellular Regulation, and Translational Therapeutics.

Upon completion of coursework requirements (54 total credits, see below), the PhD degree is awarded to students who also complete and defend a research project leading to two original and meritorious scientific contributions that are submitted for publication to leading journals in the field of study at least one manuscript must be accepted for publication before scheduling the PhD thesis defense.

Core course requirements for the PhD in Pharmacology.

The first year consists of the Core curriculum in Cell Biology and Molecular Biology (CBIO 453 Cell Biology I, CBIO 455 Molecular Biology I), research rotations, scientific ethics, part one of the Pharmacology core course, and an advanced course (18 credit hours total). During Year two, part two of the Pharmacology core course, a second advanced course, two seminar presentation courses, and independent study complete the course requirements. In all, 24 credits of graded coursework and 12 credits of P N coursework are completed. Then 18 credits of dissertation research fulfill the program of study.

Principles of Pharmacology I: The Molecular Basis of Therapeutics.

Principles of Pharmacology II: The Physiological Basis of Therapeutics.

Please also seeGraduate Studies Academic Requirements for Doctoral Degrees.

Principles of Pharmacology introduces the basic principles that underlie all of Pharmacology. The first half of the course introduces, both conceptually and quantitatively, drug absorption, distribution, elimination and metabolism (pharmacokinetics) and general drug receptor theory and mechanism of action (pharmacodynamics). Genetic variation in response to drugs (pharmacogenetics) is integrated into these basic principles. The second half of the course covers selected drug classes chosen to illustrate these principles. Small group recitation sessions use case histories to reinforce presentation of principles and to discuss public perceptions of therapeutic drug use. Graduate students will be expected to critically evaluate articles from the literature and participate in a separate weekly discussion session. Recommended preparation for PHRM 409: degree in science or permission of instructor. Offered as PHRM 309 and PHRM 409. (CHEM 223 and CHEM 224), or (CHEM 323 and CHEM 324), or (EBME 201 and EBME 202), or (BIOL 116 and BIOL 117).

This course focuses on hormone-gene interactions mediated by the ligand-inducible transcription factors termed nuclear hormone receptors. The class will address the mechanisms of action, regulatory features, and biological activities of several nuclear receptors. The usage of nuclear receptors as therapeutic targets in disease states such as cancer, inflammation, and diabetes will also be discussed. The course aims to teach students to critically evaluate primary literature relevant to nuclear hormone receptors biology, and to reinforce presentation discussion skills. Grades for will be based on midterm, final exam grades for graduates will be based on midterm, final exam, and presentation of a recently published research article related to the role of nuclear receptors in health and disease. Offered as PHRM 315, BIOC 315, PHRM 415 and BIOC 415.

Research Experience in Pharmacology. 0 1 Units.

Principles of Pharmacology I: The Molecular Basis of Therapeutics.

Principles of Pharmacology II: The Physiological Basis of Therapeutics.

This course focuses on human physiology of organ systems including the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and those systems (gastrointestinal, hepatic, and renal) that are involved in determining the pharmacokinetics or time course of drug action in vivo. A second major emphasis is placed on disease-based sessions where normal physiology, pathophysiology, and key drug classes to treat pathophysiologies are discussed. The students learn key concepts in endocrine pathologies, inflammatory disorders, pulmonary diseases, infectious diseases, and cancer. The main learning objectives are for the student to gain an understanding of basic principles of modern pharmacology and physiology and to build self-directed learning skills. A heavy emphasis is placed on student-directed learning experiences including presentation and discussion of primary literature, problem solving applications, small group discussion and team-based learning. This 3-credit hour course meets 3 hr per week during the fall semester of year 2.

This is a graduate-level introductory course in cancer biology taught through the Departments of Pharmacology and Pathology. This course will give students a broad of current basic cancer biology, highlight recent advances in cancer therapeutics, and provide a clinical perspective of the pathogenesis and treatment of common cancers. Classes will be of lecture and discussion format, and will also include student discussion of journal research articles to develop critical thinking in cancer research and experimental design as well as presentation communication skills. 1 to 3 students per class will be scheduled to lead the presentation and discussion of the selected journal articles. However, all students will be required to read the material in advance and be ready for discussion. Topics will cover growth factor action and signal transduction, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, DNA damage, apoptosis, cancer immunology, cancer stem cells, metastasis, angiogenesis, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapeutics, photodynamic therapy, targeting cancer stem cells, chemoprevention, and clinical aspects of cancers of the breast, prostate, lymphatic tissue, and colon. Presentations Participation: Instructors will complete a standardized evaluation form to provide you uniform feedback in a timely manner. Required Reading: Assigned reviews, original articles (in blackboard) Recommended Reading: The Biology of Cancer (2nd Edition), by Robert A. Weinberg Garland Science, copyright 2014 Recommended Preparation: A course in Cell Biology. A course in Molecular Biology. Offered as PATH 406, PATH 520, PHRM 406 and PHRM 520.

Principles of Pharmacology introduces the basic principles that underlie all of Pharmacology. The first half of the course introduces, both conceptually and quantitatively, drug absorption, distribution, elimination and metabolism (pharmacokinetics) and general drug receptor theory and mechanism of action (pharmacodynamics). Genetic variation in response to drugs (pharmacogenetics) is integrated into these basic principles. The second half of the course covers selected drug classes chosen to illustrate these principles. Small group recitation sessions use case histories to reinforce presentation of principles and to discuss public perceptions of therapeutic drug use. Graduate students will be expected to critically evaluate articles from the literature and participate in a separate weekly discussion session. Recommended preparation for PHRM 409: degree in science or permission of instructor. Offered as PHRM 309 and PHRM 409.

The concept of cancer hallmarks has provided a useful guiding principle in our understanding of the complexity of cancer. The hallmarks include sustaining proliferative signaling, evading growth suppressors, enabling replicative immortality, activating invasion and metastasis, inducing angiogenesis, resisting cell death, deregulating cellular energetics, avoiding immune destruction, tumor-promoting inflammation, and genome instability and mutation. The objectives of this course are to (1) examine the principles of some of these hallmarks, and (2) explore potential therapies developed based on these hallmarks of cancer. This is a student-driven and discussion-based graduate course. Students should have had some background on the related subjects and have read scientific papers in their prior coursework. Students will be called on to present and discuss experimental design, data and conclusions from assigned publications. There will be no exams or comprehensive papers but students will submit a one-page critique (strengths and weaknesses) of one of the assigned papers prior to each class meeting. The course will end with a full-day student-run symposium on topics to be decided jointly by students and the course director. Grades will be based on class participation, written critiques, and symposium presentations. Offered as BIOC 420, MBIO 420, PATH 422, and PHRM 420. Prere CBIO 453 and CBIO 455.

Vision research is an exciting and multidisciplinary area that draws on the disciplines of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, structural biology, neuroscience, and pathology. This graduate level course will provide the student with broad exposure to the most recent and relevant research currently being conducted in the field. Topics will cover a variety of diseases and fundamental biological processes occurring in the eye. Regions of the eye that will be discussed include the cornea, lens, and retina. Vision disorders discussed include age-related macular degeneration, retinal ciliopathies, and diabetic retinopathy. Instructors in the course are experts in their field and are members of the multidisciplinary visual sciences research community here at Case Western Reserve University. Students will be exposed to the experimental approaches and instrumentation currently being used in the laboratory and in clinical settings. Topics will be covered by traditional lectures, demonstrations in the laboratory and the clinic, and journal club presentations. Students will be graded on their performance in journal club presentations (40%), research proposal (40%), and class participation (20%). Offered as NEUR 432, PATH 432, PHRM 432 and BIOC 432.

Pharmacology Seminar Series. 0 1 Units.

This one credit hour course in Cancer Biology is intended to give students an opportunity to do independent literature research while enrolled in PHRM 520 PATH 520. Students must attend weekly Hematology Oncology seminar series and write a brief summary of each of the lectures attended. In addition, students must select one of the seminar topics to write a term paper which fully reviews the background related to the topic and scientific and clinical advances in that field. This term paper must also focus of Clinical Oncology, have a translational research component, and integrate with concepts learned in PHRM 520 PATH 520. Pharmacology students must provide a strong discussion on Therapeutics, while Pathology students must provide a strong component on Pathophysiology of the disease. Recommended preparation: CBIO 453 and CBIO 455, or concurrent enrollment in PHRM 520 or PATH 520. Offered as PATH 521 and PHRM 521.

Topics in Cell and Molecular Pharmacology. 0 18 Units.

Individual library research project under the guidance of a pharmacology sponsor.

This is a course of independent study designed to take the student from the bedside to the bench and back again. Students will select a problem from a list of important therapeutic issues related to variability in drug responsiveness and design a research program to elucidate its molecular, biochemical, genetic and pathophysiological basis. The resulting research proposal is expected to be multidimensional and include molecular, cellular, whole animal and clinical investigations. The written proposal will be defended orally. Recommended preparation: 1st year Pharm Graduate required courses.

This course is designed for graduate students across the university who wish to acquire a better understanding of fundamental concepts of proteomics and related bioinformatics as well as hands-on experience with techniques used in current proteomics. Lectures will cover protein peptide separation techniques, protein mass spectrometry, and biological applications which include quantitative proteomics, protein modification proteomics, interaction proteomics, structural genomics and structural proteomics. Also, it will cover experimental design, basic statistical concept and issues related to high-dimensional data from high-throughput technologies. Laboratory portion will involve practice on the separation of proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, molecular weight measurement of proteins by mass spectrometry, peptide structural characterization by tandem mass spectrometry. It will also include bioinformatics tools for protein identification and protein-protein interaction networks. The instructors' research topics will also be discussed. Recommended preparation: CBIO 453, CBIO 455, and PQHS 431. Offered as PHRM 555 and SYBB 555.

Students pursuing the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in Pharmacology are required to prepare systematically for the comprehensive qualifying exam by reviewing the concepts of cellular and molecular biology and pharmacology. The qualifier is comprised of a two-part written exam administered simultaneously to all eligible students. It is designed to evaluate their understanding of concepts presented in the various core courses. It also assesses their skills in critical reading of research articles and design of experiments. The division into two parts allows each student to receive feedback on deficient areas and work toward improvement on the second segment. Eligibility: Students may register for the exam when they have fulfilled two criteri (a) Successful completion (grade B or better) in all of the Core Courses, and an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. (b) Satisfactory performance in all research rotations and consistent research effort in the thesis laboratory as documented formally by the Ph.D. mentor. No student on probation may sit for the Qualifying Exam (Prelim I). Prere CBIO 453, CBIO 455, PHRM 401 and PHRM 402.

We are currently only admitting students for the PhD program. We do not accept students directly into a Master of Science program.

We are currently only admitting students for the PhD program.

International students at a US university may request a waiver from the testing requirement if their TOEFL IELTS scores are older than two years.

IELTS (Academic Module): Minimum Overall Required Score: 7Minimum section requirements:.

Note: Effective April 11, 2021, the paper-delivered TOEFL test is no longer offered. Scores dated up to two years prior to the date of recommendation for admission to the Purdue Graduate School will be valid through April 11, 2023.