300 Level

300 Level Pharmacology Course Details

PMCOL 300
Introductory Pharmacology

Fall term only, W 09:00
Coordinator: Dr M Zwozdesky
Prerequisites: Available only to students registered in the Dental Hygiene Diploma Program
Grading: Final grade is based on one midterm and one final exam

Lectures are used to illustrate the principles of pharmacology including rational application of commonly used drugs to the treatment of disease.

PMCOL 301
Introduction to Research in Pharmacology
3 (fi 6) (first term, 0-0-8)

Fall term only
Coordinator: Dr E Posse de Chaves

Prerequisites: Restricted to Pharmacology Honors or Specialization students in the third year of their program. There may be a limited number of spaces available.

This course is designed to introduce students to pharmacological research. The student will carry out an individual research project in a laboratory under the supervision of a member of the Department of Pharmacology. Supervision by Professors from other Departments may be possible, provided that a sponsor from the Department of Pharmacology is identified and the project is relevant to the discipline of Pharmacology. Students must secure a supervisor before
registration. There may be a limited number of spaces available.

The course offers formal opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop skills withina research laboratory setting. Students will have a chance to become familiar with good lab practices, develop critical thinking, evaluation and troubleshooting skills, while applying their knowledge to practical research questions. Completion of this course requires a written report of the project and a presentation to an examining committee.

Registration must be approved by the Department of Pharmacology. Please contact the course coordinator for registration in the course.

 PMCOL 302 - Introduction to Research in Pharmacology (Winter Term)

3 (fi 6) (second term, 0-0-8)
Fall term only

Coordinator: Dr E Posse de Chaves

Prerequisites: Restricted to Pharmacology Honors or Specialization students in the third year of their program. There may be a limited number of spaces available.

This course is designed to introduce students to pharmacological research. The student will carry out an individual research project in a laboratory under the supervision of a member of the Department of Pharmacology. Supervision by Professors from other Departments may be possible, provided that a sponsor from the Department of Pharmacology is identified and the project is relevant to the discipline of Pharmacology. Students must secure a supervisor before registration. There may be a limited number of spaces available.

The course offers formal opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop skills within a research laboratory setting. Students will have a chance to become familiar with good lab practices, develop critical thinking, evaluation and troubleshooting skills, while applying their knowledge to practical research questions. Completion of this course requires a written report of the project and a presentation to an examining committee.

Registration must be approved by the Department of Pharmacology. Please contact the course coordinator for registration in the course.

PMCOL 303
Introduction to Toxicology

Winter term only, T R 09:30
Coordinator: Dr M Zwozdesky
Prerequisites: PMCOL 200, BIOCH 200, PHYSL 210, or 212 and 214, or consent of Department
Grading: Evaluation is based on two midterms, a paper and a final examination worth 25, 30, 30 and 15%, respectively. The exams are a mixture of multiple choice, short answer and essay questions.

The adverse effects of xenobiotics on biological systems are discussed. Principles of toxicology are introduced. Responses of target organs to selected toxicants are described, with emphasis on molecular mechanisms. Special topics include chemical carcinogenesis, nanotoxicology, and endocrine disruptors.

PMCOL 305
An Introduction to the Pharmacology of Drug Abuse

Fall term only, T R 14:00
Coordinator: Dr M Zwozdesky
Prerequisites: One of the following BIOCH 200, BIOL 201, CELL 201, PHYSL 210, PHSYL 212 and 214, PMCOL 200, PSYCO 275, ZOOL 241 and 242

Grading: The final grade is based on a single midterm and a final examination in multiple-choice format.

An introduction to the complexities of drug abuse and the drugs of abuse. The student will be introduced to the psychological and social problems of drug abuse and their impact upon the abuser. Objectives of the course are to develop an understanding of addiction and a detailed knowledge of the nature of the commonly abused substances. Emphasis will be placed upon the pharmacology of drugs of abuse.

PMCOL 306 - Drug Disposition and Metabolism (effective 2023-2024)
Prerequisites: PMCOL 200, BIOCH 200, PHYSL 210, or 212 and 214, or consent of Department
Grading: Evaluation is based on two midterms, an assignment, and a final examination. The exams are a mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions.
Study of factors that affect drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME). This includes an introduction to genetic factors that influence ADME of drugs, as well as practical exercises to illustrate pharmacokinetic principles and their relevance to therapeutic dosing. Drug-drug
interactions and food-drug interactions will also be discussed.

PMCOL 337
Experimental Procedures in Pharmacology

Winter term only, T 13:00 or R 13:00
Coordinator: Dr J Hammond
Prerequisite: Normally restricted to third year Pharmacology Specialization or Honors students. Students not in these programs may be admitted via consent of the instructor if space is available.

Grading: Students are continuously assessed by their in-class performance, quality of experimental results and merit of written laboratory reports.

PMCOL 337 Syllabus

Provides a hands-on experience in addressing basic pharmacological questions. The course will employ both in vitro techniques and behavioural models. Emphasis will be placed on experimental design and data collection, analysis and presentation.

PMCOL 343/344
Scientific Basis of Pharmacology: Parts 1/2

Part 1: Fall Term, M W F 13:00 Part 2: Winter Term, M W F 13:00
Coordinator: Dr H Kurata (343) and Dr W Colmers (344)
Prerequisites for PMCOL 343: PMCOL 200 or equivalent. BIOCH 200 and PHYSL 210, or 212 and 214, or consent of instructor.
In the case of over subscription, preference will be given to students in the Pharmacology Specialization and Honors Programs.
Prerequisites for PMCOL 344: PMCOL 343 or consent of coordinator
Grading: For PMCOL 343, the final grade is based on two midterm examinations (short answer format; 22% each) and a final examination in short answer format (56%). For PMCOL 344, the final grade is based on two midterm examinations (short answer format; 25% each) and a final examination in short answer and multiple-choice format (50%).

PMCOL 343: This course, together with the subsequent PMCOL 344, provides a comprehensive study of the modern science of pharmacology. The objective of the course is to study how drugs act on physiological systems. The areas covered will include neuropharmacology and neuroendocrine pharmacology. This course may be especially useful to those students who wish to pursue a career in health sciences.

PMCOL 344: A continuation of PMCOL 343 with an emphasis on gastrointestinal pharmacology, chemotherapy of malignant and infectious diseases and pharmacological intervention in metabolic diseases.

PMCOL 371
Cellular Neuroscience

Fall Term, T R 09:30
Coordinator: Dr W Colmers
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210, or 212 and 214, or 252, or ZOOL 242. Students who have taken ZOOL 342 may not receive credit in PMCOL 371.
Grading: The final grade is based on a single midterm (40%) and a final examination (60%) in multiple-choice format.

Lectures presented by the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and the Faculty of Science on nerve cell membranes, ion channels, neurotransmitters and their receptors, synaptic mechanisms and plasticity, gene regulation and development, the physiology of small neural networks and disorders involving basic mechanisms.