Fall 2024 - HSCI 323 D100

Principles of Pharmacology and Toxicology (3)

Class Number: 4303

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 9:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Timothy Beischlag
    tvb@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-3071
  • Prerequisites:

    MBB 231, CHEM 282, both with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Biological, molecular and biochemical actions of drugs and toxicants. Genetic and environmental risk determinants. Understanding the broad spectrum of toxicological problems encountered in clinical practice, drug development and regulation, and medical research.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will provide students with an introduction to pharmacological and toxicological principles, and in particular pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In addition, students will be provided with an overview of mechanisms of drug/toxicant action on various systems, and receptors, including signal transduction pathways. Finally, students will be introduced to the topics of pharmaco-/toxico-genetics and genomics. This course is designed to prepare undergraduates who have an interest in medicine and human health services to pursue careers in these disciplines. In addition, this course will serve as the cornerstone of the Environmental and Occupational Health Bachelor of Science stream and support the Life Course in Human Health stream in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Course Objectives:
The objectives of this course are to provide students with a firm and demonstrable understanding of the basic principles of pharmacology and toxicology. By the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Explain relevant principles of drug action such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, bio-activation, and the laws of mass action as they relate to the physiology of drug and toxicant action.

2. The students should begin to be able to apply or relate this knowledge to practical pharmacological/toxicological problems commonly associated with human populations and those confronted in a basic laboratory situation. This should be evident by the student’s ability to extend theory to practice and/or provide relevant examples from the literature.

3. Students should be able to identify what parameters, with regard to dose/exposure, peak plasma concentration, etc., are physiologically relevant.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course will provide students with an introduction to pharmacological and toxicological principles, and in particular pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In addition, students will be provided with an overview of mechanisms of drug/toxicant action on various systems, and receptors, including signal transduction pathways. Finally, students will be introduced to the topics of pharmaco-/toxico-genetics and genomics. This course is designed to prepare undergraduates who have an interest in medicine and human health services to pursue careers in these disciplines. In addition, this course will serve as the cornerstone of the Environmental and Occupational Health Bachelor of Science stream and support the Life Course in Human Health stream in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Grading

  • Mid-term Exam 1 33%
  • Mid-term Exam 2 33%
  • Mid-term Exam 3 34%

NOTES:

This course is offered in lecture format. Notes from class presentations will be provided as PowerPoint presentations.

This Instructor may make changes to the syllabus and/or grading if necessary within University/ Faculty regulations.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Course Textbooks and Reading Material: Rang and Dale’s: Pharmacology. Ninth Edition. James Ritter, Rod Flower, Graeme Henderson, Yoon Kong Loke, David MacEwan, Humphrey Rang. Eds. 2019. ISBN-13: 9780702074479
ISBN: 9780702074479

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.