THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE, DENTISTRY AND HEALTH SCIENCES

Unit Outcomes
The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the scientific study of pharmacology. Pharmacology is the branch of modern science specialising in studying the effects of drugs on the body. The scope of pharmacology includes exploration of both the beneficial or therapeutic effects of drugs as well as their harmful or unwanted properties (the latter introduces the sub-discipline of toxicology – the branch of science that studies the effects of harmful substances).

Pharmacology is an important and dynamic component of our modern healthcare system as there is a continual need for new drugs on account of ongoing changes in disease patterns within society. For example, there is currently a very active search for new drugs to counteract the increase in diabetes that is associated with the growing obesity epidemic in industrialised nations. New drugs to treat diseases of old age such as the devastating brain disorder Alzheimer’s Disease are also greatly needed due to the increasing proportion of elderly folk in our community.

In PHAR2210, emphasis is placed on explaining general mechanisms, processes and theories rather than detailing the myriad properties of particular drugs used and abused in society. This material will serve as a foundation for further studies in pharmacology, allowing many effects, side effects and contra-indications for whole classes of drugs to be predicted from general principles. Progressive assessments are held throughout the unit to encourage and support students in adopting a learning strategy that will lead to long term understanding and mastery of material.

E-MAIL Accounts
A UWA student email account is required to access the Internet as part of Computer Assisted Learning programmes and to access teaching and learning material on WebCT. All computers in Room G.17 are assigned with restricted IP (Internet Protocol) numbers.

WebCT
Various teaching and learning material pertinent to this unit (eg lecture notes, lab handouts) will be available online via “WebCT”. In order to access this material, students must have their own UWA Student email account as described above. Information on how to access web-based material will be provided in the Introductory lecture in the first week of semester.

The WebCT website is /http://students.webct.uwa.edu.au/

It is the responsibility of each student to login to WebCT at least twice a week for updates to notices, learning material etc. Students are able to use computer labs in Pharmacology outside Laboratory class times. The unit coordinator will monitor WebCT once a week where possible.

In order for students to access Pharmacology pages and other UWA Websites, students need to set up and register SNAP-Student Network Access Project using the following link
http://www.pharm.uwa.edu.au/aussie/courses/pharmcal-access.html

Lectures
The material presented during the semester constitutes the core syllabus. However, you are expected to supplement lecture material by reading the appropriate chapter of the textbook and/or other material recommended by lecturers.

Lecture handouts will be provided for sale as a booklet at the Co-op Bookshop. These notes will also be available online via WebCT.

Lectures containing curriculum content will be recorded using the iLectures system. Audio recordings will be available via WebCT. Any problems recordings should be reported to iLectures via email (ilectures@uwa.edu.au) or using the link “Report a problem with this recording”. Please note that “Introduction to Principles of Pharmacology PHAR2210” and “Examination advice / Systems Pharmacology PHAR2230” will NOT be recorded using iLectures.

Formative and Summative MCQ Assessments
Formative MCQ (multiple choice questions) assessments are available on WebCT. You are encouraged to complete these self-assessments to encourage consolidation and revision of the lecture material and to provide the opportunity to clarify any particular problems.

It is anticipated that summative MCQ assessments will be computer-based. These assessments will contribute 20% to your final grade. These summative assessments will be held in the Pharmacology Undergraduate Laboratory Room G.17. To facilitate these assessments, you have been assigned to one of three groups (1, 2 or 3). Please pay particular attention to which group you belong and at what time you are expected to attend. Students who have an asterix (*) beside their names have been placed in particular groups due to timetable and other considerations. These students cannot be moved to another group. Each assessment will contain 15 MCQs and be of 15 minutes duration. The following summative assessments will be held:

i. Pharmacodynamics A/Prof P Burcham
ii. Pharmacokinetics A/Prof P Burcham
iii. Clinical aspects of drug action A/Prof V Kapoor
iv. Chemotherapy + Toxicology + Structure-activity relationships A/Prof P Burcham

Laboratories
Laboratories
Attendance at laboratory sessions is a requirement of this unit. To facilitate participation in these laboratory sessions, students have been assigned to one of three groups, A, B or C. Group lists are attached. Please pay particular attention to which grouping you belong and on which days you are expected to attend lab classes. You are required to provide documentation (eg medical certificate) if you are unable to attend the laboratory session to which you were assigned. Credit will not be given in cases of non-attendance at practicals.

Four laboratory sessions will be held throughout the semester in the Pharmacology Undergraduate Laboratories (Rooms G.17 and G.26) at the Queen Elizabeth II campus. The practical sessions are designed to introduce students to basic techniques associated with Pharmacology and to reinforce material presented in lectures.

Eating, drinking and the use of mobile phones are not permitted in laboratories. For safety reasons, laboratory coats and appropriate footwear (no sandals, open shoes, thongs or bare feet) are required for Salicylate kinetics and Drug metabolism practicals held in Room G.26.


Students who do not comply with these directives will be excluded from laboratory sessions.

The following laboratory sessions will be held and contribute to assessment in this unit. The names of teaching staff that are responsible for each lab topic are also indicated below. Assessment will be in the form of a written laboratory report and/or online assessment as specified by each individual Lab coordinator.
i. Dose-response curves Room G.17 Dr L Fernandes
ii. Drug metabolism Room G.26 A/Prof P Burcham
iii. Pharmacokinetics Room G.17 Dr E Ooi
iv. Salicylate kinetics Room G.26 Mr C Cruickshank

Submission deadlines for laboratory reports are at the discretion of the relevant teacher (eg Drug Metabolism Lab = A/Prof Phil Burcham).

Reports must be lodged in the correct slot in the mailbox located opposite Room G.37 at the entrance to the Pharmacology Unit. Please ensure that your report is placed in the appropriate slot!
Slots for laboratory reports are labelled with:
> name of the unit (eg Principles of Pharmacology PHAR2210),
> title of the laboratory session (eg Drug Metabolism Lab) and
> name of the academic (A/Prof Peter Henry).

Credit will not be given for late reports. Marked reports can be collected from the alcove outside the Pharmacology Undergraduate laboratory (Room G.17) on the ground floor.

Student Information
There is no fee paying, on site, car parking available for use by students on the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH) site.

Recommended Textbook
Rang H.P., Dale M.M. & Ritter J.M. and Moore, P.K., Pharmacology, 6thedition, Churchill Livingstone, Melbourne, 2007. This textbook is available in the reserve collections of the Medical and Dental as well as the Biological Sciences Libraries.

Library Facilities
Books and journals dealing with Pharmacology are located mainly in the Medical Library, corner of Monash Avenue and Hospital Avenue, within the Oral Health Complex (WA) on the SCGH site. The Biological Sciences Library also contains useful reference sources.

Drug Profile Exercise
The aim of this exercise is to demonstrate how the basic principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, biotransformation and toxicology are relevant to the pharmacology of specific drugs. Each student will be required to write a report (using short notes which should fit on both sides of a single A4 page using font size of at least 12 point) on the pharmacological properties of an assigned drug. Compulsory proformas for use in this exercise will be made available on WebCT.

Assessment
There will be a three hour written examination paper at the end of the semester. All material presented in the unit, including laboratories, is examinable.

The examination paper will be divided into two parts:

Part 1: 45 multiple choice questions (25% of exam mark)
Part 2: 6 out of 8 short answer questions (75% of exam mark)

More information concerning the final exam will be presented in a briefing session to be held during the normal lecture timeslot on Wednesday May 30 in the usual lecture venue.

The overall distribution of marks for Principles of Pharmacology PHAR2210 will be as follows:

MCQ Assessments (x4) 15%
Laboratories (x4) 15%
Drug Profile Exercise 10%
Written Semester examination 60%

PLAGIARISM
Excerpts from the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences website
http://www.science.uwa.edu.au/for/students/academic_assessment/dishonesty

Plagiarism, i.e. presenting another's work as though it were one's own, for instance quoting or paraphrasing someone else's opinions, arguments or research findings, whether published or unpublished (e.g. from a book or article, an internet site, or another student's assignment), without clear acknowledgement of the source. Students are encouraged to read widely on their subjects in reputable books and journals (such as those recommended by the unit coordinator) and to draw on these in their assignments, but are required to give explicit references to all their sources. (No source need be given for commonly accepted matters of fact.)
All students are expected to make themselves aware of the definitions and policies relating to academic misconduct.

Procedures for Handling a Suspected Case of Plagiarism

A complainant may opt to approach the Faculty Dean directly with details of a case. However, Pharmacology feels that in most cases it may be preferable to first discuss the matter with the Head of Unit, who will then decide whether (a) it is without substance or magnitude, (b) it can be dealt with internally or (c) it should proceed to the Faculty Dean.

The regulations governing student conduct and discipline, including plagiarism, can be obtained at
http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/home/policies/discip