Pharmacology I

Theoretical matrix (T):
– Expository method leveraging student-teacher interaction through appropriate audiovisual and online platforms.
Student-centered teaching approaches through the analysis of articles, fostering knowledge application. There are two written examinations during the academic period (15/20v). Examinations according to academic calendars.
Practical matrix (P):
– Learning is action-oriented, through teaching by investigation, where the student is challenged to build research projects centered on open questions from preclinical pharmacology that promote critical thinking and the application of scientific method, carried out in work groups. Projects need to be planned in accordance with national and European guidelines, in articulation with the Sustainable Development Goals (ODS, WHO), replicating “real world” challenges arising from preclinical research in Pharmacology. Continuous assessment reflected in the orally discussed teamgroup research project (5/20v).

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:
-Interpret the mechanisms of action of drugs that act as central nervous system modulators, antiinflammatory/analgesics as well as respiratory, cardiovascular and renal system modulators
-Contextualize the origin of adverse effects and drug interactions of aforesaid pharmacological agents, applying algorithms of systemic reasoning while recognizing the complexity of of physiological systems;
– Understand the correlations between pharmacology and other bioscience topics (e.g. physiology, cellular and
molecular biology, drug chemistry), articulating integrated problem solving skills;
– Recognize and apply the scientific methodologies applied in the process of preclinical research in Pharmacology;
– Develop their analytical reasoning and criticism, as well as oral/written communication skills in pharmacology, leveraging critical thinking skills and collaborative dynamics through joint participation in problem solving.

1. Basic principles of Pharmacology
1.1. Nomenclature and systems of drug classification
1.2. General principles of drug action
2. Pharmacology of Central Nervous System (CNS) drugs
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations of the following groups of drugs:
2.1. Stimulants of CNS
2.2. Sedative-hypnotic drugs
2.3. General and local anesthetics
2.4. Antipsychotic drugs
2.5. Antidepressant drugs
2.6. Opioid analgesics and antagonists
2.7. Nonsteirodal and steirodal anti-inflammatory drugs; disease modifying antirheumatic drugs; nonopioid analgesics
3. Pharmacology of respiratory, cardiovascular and renal drugs
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations of the following groups of drugs:
3.1. Modulators of respiratory system
3.2. Modulators of cardiovascular and renal systems
4. The process of drug research – pre-clinical phase
4.1. In silico assays
4.2. In vitro assays
4.3 In vivo assays

NAO