Pharmacology  (PHS1)

This aim of this programme is to educate and train students in the discipline of Pharmacology to pursue careers in scientific research, the pharmaceutical sector, education and related professional degrees. We value students who are expert, independent, critical thinkers, motivated to acquire and develop a deep-understanding of drugs, their mechanisms and applications.  We aim to provide a learning environment combining state of the art laboratories and research facilities and multifaceted teaching methodologies that encourage questioning and investigational skills with an integrative approach to problem solving. Our graduates will exemplify academic integrity, with excellence in laboratory skills and core competencies in research.

1 - Develop a critical knowledge of pharmacological principles, drugs, their mechanism of action, experimental and therapeutic uses.
2 - Apply new and emerging modalities including gene and cell therapies for therapeutic benefit.
3 - Effectively and accurately communicate the science of pharmacology to the scientific and wider communities verbally and in writing.
4 - Understand the research method and apply new practical skills and knowledge of experimental methods in pharmacology.
5 - Critically analyse scientific process of increasing complexity and use evidence based approaches to interrogate pharmacological problems.
6 - Apply and integrate contemporary, multidisciplinary knowledge to the investigation of pharmacology.
7 - Understand and comply with current policies on the rights of research subjects, copyright, ethics, malpractice, data ownership and use of animals.
8 - Appreciate how scientific hypotheses and research outcomes result in novel therapeutics.
9 - Interpret, analyse and organise scientific data accurately and precisely.
10 - Integrate theoretical, experimental and clinical pharmacology to promote the discipline of pharmacology in its fullest diversity and to foster basic research and the development of theory.

Students’ performance will be reviewed at the end of the academic year. Students who fail 50% or more of their registered modules, and who fail to progress to the next stage of their programme, will be identified under the UCD Continuation – Academic progress policy. Students’ performance will continue to be reviewed in subsequent trimesters and students will be invited to meetings with the College of Science office for support and guidance.

Where the rate of progression and performance over two academic years is deemed unacceptable, a case will be submitted to the Governing Board for review. A recommendation for discontinuation may be the outcome of this review.

As Stages 3 and 4 have the most dynamic components of the programme, and the material studied previously may no longer be relevant, a student who has been away from the programme for a significant period should be required to register again to Stage 3. The upper limit for completion of Stages 3 and 4 should be six years if they choose to do 120 credits with 20 in each year.

Pharmacologists study the nature, actions and uses of drugs. This degree starts you on the road to a highly active field of research.

Pharmacology deals with the study of drugs and their action on living systems. A drug is any substance that is given to a human or animal with the intention of changing the state of its body function: to relieve pain, treat cancer, eliminate infection or improve health. A science-based pharmacologist is concerned with investigating how drugs act at different biological levels, ranging from cells and genes up to tissues and even human populations.

Pharmacology is also concerned with the use of drugs as investigative tools to obtain a better understanding of cellular and physiological processes in both health and disease. Toxicology is an important component of the discipline of Pharmacology. This is the study of the harmful effects of chemicals, including drugs, pesticides and toxins, on living organisms.

As a discipline, therefore, Pharmacology underpins many of the medical advances that have led to improvements in the quality of life for us all.

STAGE 1
Stage 1 of the BSc Pharmacology degree includes core modules in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. Since drugs are chemicals, and since the cellular processes that they modify are chemical / biochemical in nature, the pharmacologist requires some knowledge of Chemistry, Biology and Physiology, as well as Mathematics and Statistics.

With the exception of Mathematics, it is not necessary for you to have studied these subjects before coming to UCD; the modules studied in Stage 1 will ensure that all students have sufficient understanding of the relevant basic sciences to master the discipline of Pharmacology.

STAGE 2
In Stage 2 you begin your studies in Pharmacology in depth. Topics covered include pharmacodynamics (how drugs work at a molecular level), pharmacokinetics (what the body does to drugs), the effects of drugs on the different body systems, endocrine and immune pharmacology, genetics and biotechnology. In addition, you will also have an opportunity to take other modules in related biomedical sciences such as Biochemistry, Microbiology or Physiology, or in Chemistry.

STAGE 3
Areas studied in Stage 3 include chemotherapy, toxicology, drug treatment of endocrine and neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, advanced CNS pharmacology and molecular pharmacology.

STAGE 4
As you progress to Stage 4, the modules you study are increasingly based on 'hot topics', introducing you to the many exciting developments taking place the field of Pharmacology and related disciplines.

Topics include:
- Receptor-based cell signalling
- Developmental biology/pharmacology
- Ophthalmological pharmacology
- Cancer biology and pharmacology
- Advanced neuropharmacology
- Drug discovery

In addition to these courses, you also gain direct research experience by undertaking a laboratory-based research project.

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
A limited number of opportunities exist for you in Stages 2 and 3 to gain additional laboratory experience during the summer holiday period; funded schemes are organised by public and private bodies, e.g. The Irish Health Research Board and The Wellcome Trust (UK). In addition, occasional opportunities arise within individual research groups.

Pharmacology graduates pursue careers in many different fields. Career opportunities include: - Research in institutes, universities or the pharmaceutical industry - Management - Product development, registration or marketing within the pharmaceutical industry - Regulatory agencies involving drug information / registration - Publishing and science journalism - Teaching

Dr K. M. O'Boyle UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research Belfield, Dublin 4 Tel: +353 1 716 6744/6760 Email: koboyle@ucd.ie Web: www.ucd.ie/horizons

Stage 3

Students take eight core modules and at least two option modules. Additional option modules can be selected form the list below or alternatively, students can select 10 credits from elective modules.
If you are interested in doing an Internship as part of Stage 4, you must indicate your interest now (in Stage 3). See full details www.ucd.ie/science/careers/internships/students/

Stage 4

Students take a total of 60 credits of programme modules (cores and options).

See the UCD Assessment website for further details, including worked examples of how degree award GPAs are calculated

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