Courses
The following courses are presently being offered in the department; however, it is important to note that not every class is offered on a yearly basis. Specific information on course offerings can be obtained by contacting the Department.
Basic courses in pharmacology (700 level)
GMS PM 700 Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology
(for M.A., Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. candidates)
GMS PM 710 Laboratory Techniques in Modern Pharmacology
(for Ph.D. candidates)
MD531 Dental Pharmacology
(for D.M.D. candidates)
GMS PM 730 (click for brochure) - Introduction to Medical Pharmacology
(primarily for M.A. in Medical Sciences candidates)
Advanced courses in pharmacology (800 level)
GMS PM 800 Advanced General Pharmacology
GMS PM 810 Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences
GMS PM 820 Neuropsychopharmacology
GMS PM 830 Principles of Pharmacokinetics
GMS PM 832 Pharmacogenomics
(M.A., Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. candidates)
GMS PM 840 Neuroendocrine Pharmacology
GMS PM 843 Pharmacologic Intervention in Inflammatory Responses
GMS PM 850 Biochemical Neuropharmacology
GMS PM 860 Electrophysiology and Pharmacology of the Synapse
GMS PM 880 Gene Regulation and Pharmacology
GMS PM 881 Drug Discovery and Development
GMS PM 892 Molecular and Neural Bases of Learning Behavior
Courses offered by other departments that have been taken to satisfy the requirement for advanced courses include:
GMS BI 790 Receptors and Signal Transduction
GMS MS 783 Molecular Basis of Neurologic Disease
GMS BY 771 Biophysics of Macromolecular Assemblies
Departmental course descriptions
GMS PM 700
Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology
Prereq: Consent of instructor. Examines a spectrum of topics ranging from the regulation of gene expression in the nervous system to the structure and function of receptors and ion channels. Emphasis is placed on theoretical foundations of pharmacology and neurobiology and the use of molecular and pharmacological methods in neurobiology. Farb,Gibbs, staff. 4 cr, 2nd sem.
GMS PM 710
Laboratory Techniques in Modern Pharmacology
Prereq: Consent of instructor. Supervised laboratory rotation emphasizing modern research techniques in molecular, cellular, and behavioral pharmacology. Problems of collection, summary, and interpretation of data are addressed. Russek, staff. 2 cr, either sem.
GMS PM 730
Introduction to Medical Pharmacology
Prereq: Premedical courses in the sciences. Principles of pharmacology are covered and several major classes of therapeutic agents, with attention to their mechanisms of action. Issues of current and future concern in medical pharmacology are addressed including problems of drug abuse, the ethics of human experimentation, the pricing of new drugs, and new biotechnological approaches to drug design and development. Walsh, staff. 4 cr, 1st sem.
GMS PM 800
Advanced General Pharmacology
Prereq: Consent of instructor. Lectures and discussions on the major classes of pharmacologic agents, with special attention to molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms of therapeutic effects. Wolozin, staff. 2 cr, 1st sem.
GMS PM 810
Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences
Prereq: Consent of instructor. Given in conjunction with the weekly seminar program of the department. Students present and discuss research papers with the visiting scientist working on the cutting edge of pharmacology. Leeman. 2 cr, 2nd sem.
GMS PM 820
Neuropsychopharmacology
Prereq: Consent of instructor. Focuses on the mechanisms and sites of action of drugs that influence the brain, with an emphasis on therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders as well as drugs of abuse. Behavioral models of diseases affecting the brain also will be defined and critiqued. Staff. 2 cr, 1st sem.
GMS PM 830
Principles of Pharmacokinetics
Prereq: Consent of instructor. Lectures and discussion concerning basic factors determining absorption,distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs. Includes techniques and interpretations of pharmacokinetic data analyses. Walsh. 2 cr, 2nd sem.
GMS PM 832
Pharmacogenomics
Prereq: Consent of instructor. Focuses on genetic differences among individuals and the relevance to drug discovery and development and pharmacotherapies. Biomarkers and technologies used to identify genetic variation will be discussed. Students will develop an understanding of the potential of personalized medicine based on genetically determined phenotypes. Walsh, Martin. 2 cr, 1st sem.
GMS PM 840
Neuroendocrine Pharmacology
Covers the basic principles of neuroendocrinology with special emphasis on pharmacologic aspects. Topics include the biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology of the neural hormones which regulate arterior and posterior pituitary function, as well as selected other peptides, such as substance P, neurotensin, and some cytokines. Leeman. 2 cr, 2nd sem.
GMS PM 843
Pharmacologic Intervention in Inflammatory Responses
Pharmacologic Intervention in Inflammatory Responses Examines selected topics in inflammation including the cellular components of specific diseases, inflammatory mediators and their mechanisms of action, and therapeutic modulation of inflammation. Leeman and Reed. 2 cr, 1st sem.
GMS PM 850
Biochemical Neuropharmacology
Lectures and discussions on biosynthesis, inactivation, receptors, and signaling mechanisms of neurotransmitters and chemical mediators including GABA, glutamate, acetylcholine, catecholamines, purines, peptides, prostaglandins, and histamines. Staff. 2 cr, 1st sem.
GMS PM 860
Electrophysiology and Pharmacology of the Synapse
Prereq: GMS PM 700, GMS MS 703, or GMS PH 742, and consent of instructor. Covers electrophysiology, pharmacology, and optical studies of transmission at central synapses. Lectures and discussion based on journal articles will cover basic and more novel concepts in synaptic transmission. Emphasis will be placed on critical evaluation of journal articles and scientific writing skills. Staff. 2 cr, 2nd sem.
GMS PM 880
Gene Regulation and Pharmacology
Prereq: Consent of instructor. The course focuses on fundamental aspects of gene control with emphasis on the dual role of RNA as both an informational and a catalytic molecule. Topics range from discussions of gene transcription and RNA splicing, to discussions of ribozymes as therapeutic agents. The relevance of these topics to the understanding, and potential treatment, of disorders that result from altered patterns of gene expression is stressed. Russek 2cr, 1st sem.
GMS PM 881
Drug Discovery and Development
The objectives of the course are to provide graduate students an opportunity to learn about the research process and methodologies associated with the development of small molecule drug products (new chemical entities or NCE’s) and protein drug products (biologics). Farb, McKew, 2 cr, 2nd sem.
GMS PM 892
Molecular and Neural Bases of Learning Behavior
Lectures and student presentations on literature in learning and memory research, with special emphasis on integrated approaches from the molecular, genetic, and pharmacological to circuitry, systems, computational, and behavioral levels. Staff 2 cr, 2nd sem.
