Pharmacology and Toxicology: Spring Course Offerings

Course Listings

Expand All Collapse All
  • Lab Rotation PHTO (6022)
    Lab Rotation PHTO (6022) The objectives of this course are to acquaint students with the research activities of individual faculty members and to assist students in choosing their areas of specialization. The faculty member and student will design a research project and work out a time schedule committing the student to three to 24 hours per week in the laboratory. The student will prepare an abstract describing the objectives and methodology of the study and then conduct the study under the faculty memberÆs supervision. A final report stating the methods, results, interpretation, problems encountered, and suggestions for future research will be required. In addition to carrying out the research proposal the student will be expected to gain a knowledge of the current literature relevant to the project. Grading will be based on the studentÆs laboratory performance, final written report, and an oral presentation of the project. Grading will be A, B, C, F. Normally, a student entering the program without an advanced degree will be required to complete 12 hours of credit with a grade of B or better prior to gaining admission to candidacy. Individual requirements may vary depending on the research experience of the student. Prerequisites: None Terms offered: I, II, III Year offered: Annually Hours per week: Laboratory 3 24

  • Seminar in Pharmacology & Toxicology (PHTO 6195)

    Presentations by guest lecturers, staff, and students on the progress of their own research, as well as review of recent advances in pharmacology. Students will receive a grade of satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U) based on attendance and participation. Prerequisites: Students are required to be enrolled in this course every term offered, except for the last term.

    Prerequisites: None
    Term offered: I, II, III
    Year offered: Annually
    Hours per week: Seminar 1
    Instructor: Dr. Thomas Green

  • Pharmacology & Toxicology Student Journal Club (PHTO 6190)

    This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to practice formal presentation skills and discuss science. Students will select research articles from pharmacological journals for presentation to students and student groups. Each student will present and discuss at least one paper per semester depending on the number of students enrolled in the course. Grades will be based on attendance and quality of presentation. Pharmacology students are required to be enrolled in this course every term offered, except for the last term.

    Prerequisites: None
    Term Offered: I, II
    Year Offered: Annually
    Hours Per Week: Conference or Discussion 1
    Instructor: Dr. Miriam Falzon

  • Research (PHTO 6097)

    Research on thesis or dissertation project under the direction of supervising professor. The research is graded as satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U).

    Prerequisites: None

    Term offered: I, II, III

    Year offered: Annually


  • Master of Science Thesis (PHTO 6098)

    Formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the thesis for the Master of Science degree under the direction of the student's supervisory committee. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

     Term offered: I, II, III

    Year offered: Annually

     

  • Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation (PHTO 6099)

    Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy degree to enroll in this course.  This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the dissertation for the Doctor of Philosophy degree while under the direction of the student’s supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).

    Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy

    Terms offered: I, II, III

    Year Offered: Annually

    Hours per week: Variable 3-9

     

  • Environmental Toxicology Research Review (PHTO 6126) (longitudinal fall-spring)

    This course is an open discussion and presentation course, and will include monthly presentation of current literature papers, selected by the students, in consultation and development with the Course Director, prior to each presentation.  This will include: 1) the process of paper selection, 2) the review of potential auxiliary papers, and 3) distribution of the papers to the class participants. Using guidelines developed by the Course Director, students will each present 1-2 papers from the current toxicology-relevant literature, in a semi-formal presentation venue, with an open discussion format.  In this discussion time, presenting students will be responsible for the development and delivery of presentation on their selected research paper(s). Areas required to be covered within the presentation are: 1) hypothesis, 2) methods and approach, 3) statistical analyses, 4) main finding(s), 5) appropriateness of overall conclusions, 6) strengths and weaknesses of study, and 6) whether they would accept the paper for publication as is, or with modification(s), and what those modifications, if necessary, would be. Open discussion will include questioning the presenter about various important aspects of the study being presented, including the hypothesis, experimental design, statistics, and results. Grading will be based on paper presentation, participation in classroom discussion, and attendance.  

    Prerequisites: None
    Terms offered: I through II
    Year offered: Annually
    Hours Per Month: 2
    Instructor: Dr. Bill Ameredes

  • Advances in Mental Health Research (PHTO 6123)

    This course will provide a solid understanding of current mental health research and promote understanding of factors advancing future groundbreaking mental health research.  The course will have flexible format, including sessions where students discuss relevant papers, present their own data, discuss a wide range of career-development issues, learn about pharmacotherapeutic development, learn advanced grant-writing principles, discuss relevant ethical issues, and learn advanced research techniques.  Attendance 50%, participation in classroom discussion 50%.  A satisfactory grade requires a score of 80%. 

    Prerequisites: None
    Term Offered: I, II, III
    Year Offered: Annually
    Hours Per Week: 2
    Instructor: Dr. Thomas Green and Dr. Fernanda Laezza

  • Neuroaddicts Journal Club (PHTO 6121)

    The Neuroaddicts Journal Club provides a more cohesive venue for trainees and exposes mentees to a wider range of neuroscience and addictions topics. The goals are for mentees to learn critical thinking of the published literature, the requirements and construction of high quality manuscripts, and presentation skills. Within this environment, mentees have a prime opportunity to refine the ability to converse in both scientific and collegial domains, and become comfortable with asking questions and thinking critical/constructively. 

    Prerequisites: None
    Term offered: I, II
    Year offered: Annually
    Hours per week: 1
    Instructor: Dr. Noelle Anastasio

  • Addiction Sciences and Neurotherapeutics (PHTO 6120)

    This course will provide an interactive workgroup for trainees to discuss their research in addiction science with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty. Emphasis will be placed on therapeutic development, and trainees will learn how to approach existing projects with a therapeutic development prospective. Presentation formats will vary in scope and level of analysis, depending on the needs of the trainee. Examples of trainee presentation formats include: expansion of an existing project for grant proposal development, and detailed discussion of data analysis and interpretation. Intermittently, faculty will present information on their research program to provide students with an overview of cutting-edge neuroscience and drug discovery/development topics. Grades will be based on in-class participation and presentation quality.

    Prerequisites: None
    Term offered: I, II
    Year offered: Annually
    Hours per week: 1
    Instructor: Dr. Jonathan Hommel

  • Physiology and Pharmacology of ion channel and receptor signaling(PHTO 6127)

    This  course  provides  a  general  background  in  cellular  neuroscience  with  an  emphasis  on  neuronal  synaptic  transmission.  The  first  part  of  the  course  covers  structure  and  molecular  composition  of  excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Topics covered include: synaptic structure and dynamics, molecular composition  of  post-synaptic  ligand-gated  ion  channels,  metabotropic  receptors,  signal  transduction  pathways, functional analysis of postsynaptic currents, synaptic plasticity and neuronal homeostasis. The second part of the course includes an in-depth reading and discussion of topics related to synaptic receptors  mediating  neuronal  transmission  in  the  central  nervous  system.  This  course  will  prepare  students  for  upper  level  Neuroscience  and  Neuropharmacology  courses  and  is  also  suitable  for  students interested in basic cellular mechanisms underlying brain function. Grading is based on written midterm and final examinations.  Grading will be on a Standard A-F basis.

    Prerequisites: None
    Terms offered: II
    Year offered: Annually
    Hours Per Week: 2
    Instructor: Dr. Fernanda Laezza


     

  • Synthetic Methods to Biomolecules (PHTO 6211)

    Modern methods for the synthesis of biomolecules will be covered. Biomolecules include various natural products, unnatural amino acids, peptides, nucleotides, carbohydrates, bioactive small molecular chemical probes and drug candidates. The lecture topics will include modern synthetic methods that are useful to access various biomolecules. These synthetic methods include but not limit to solid phase synthesis, combinatorial synthesis, and fundamental organic synthetic approaches such as reductions, oxidations, functional group protections, carbon-carbon bond formation, asymmetric alkylation, asymmetric allylation, metal-halogen exchange, organolithium reagents, directed ortho metalation, Stille reaction, Suzuki reaction, Heck reaction, stereoselective aldol reaction, olefination, asymmetric epoxidation and catalytic epoxide-opening reactions, asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction, olefin metathesis, synthetic methods for heterocyclic compounds, etc.

    Prerequisites: Undergraduate Organic Chemistry
    Term offered: II
    Year offered: Annually
    Hours per week: Lecture 2
    Instructor: Dr. Jia Zhou


     

     

  • Endocrine, Chemotherapy, and Toxicology Pharmacology (PHTO 6213)

    Survey of Pharmacology course covering drugs that affect the endocrine system, drugs used in cancer chemotherapy, anti-parasitic drugs, drugs to treat gastrointestinal (GI) system, anti-dhistomines, anti-inflammatory drugs and an introduction to toxicology and specific toxic agents

    Prerequisites: None
    Terms offered: II
    Year offered: Annually
    Hours per week: Lecture 4
    Instructor: Dr. Miriam Falzon


     

     

  • Introduction of Regulation Toxicology (PHTO 6226)

    The objective of this course is to provide a basic foundation in regulatory toxicology methods, requirements, and practical skills. The course format is a hybrid of online lectures and webinars supplemented with online materials as well as practical application aligned with project examples. Students will be provided an opportunity to 1) learn the requirements for toxicology testing for pharmaceutical products and medical devices 2) learn the requirements for toxicology testing for food, cosmetics, industrial chemicals, and consumer products 3) learn the background and application of publicly available toxicology databases, and how the data can be used for experimental and regulatory purposes, as well as a practical exercise using a database for a project and focused outcome. Grading of course performance will be standard letter grades, based on exams, individual projects, class participation/discussion, and attendance. 

    Online discussions will be asynchronous with clear start times and deadlines for students to post to the discussion forum. Students are expected, at the minimum, to provide at least one initial post and one reply post for each weekly topic. Depending on the course size, students may be asked to lead discussions for the week. The course instructor will set the course discussion question for the week and provide the journal club citation and pdf if necessary, though students will be encouraged to use their library research skills when papers are available that way. At the end of the discussion week, students will be graded on their level of participation. The expectations for online discussions will be explained, along with a grading rubric for the assignment of grades that is based on the quality and content of the online discussion postings. Lecture notes will also be available within Blackboard on a weekly basis, so that students have the course material available to them during the week, and if they bring laptops to the course, they can use interactive tools on risk assessment during lectures or discussions to meet the applied learning objectives.

    Prerequisites: Instructor or Director Approval
    Term offered: II
    Year offered: Annually
    Hours per week: Lecture 2 Discussion
    Instructor: Dr. Sol Bobst