Courses

PHCL 2001: Basic Principles of Pharmacology

• Session(s): Fall
• Credits: 2
• Course Director: Dr. Steven Graves
• Prerequisites: College-level chemistry

Students will develop a foundational understanding of the principles of pharmacology related to pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. These concepts will be presented through in-person lectures with open discussion encouraged. Topics covered will be broken into three modules beginning with pharmacodynamics wherein drug binding, differences between affinity and efficacy, types and interpretation of dose-response curves, and modern receptor theory will be introduced. Module 2 will be comprised of types of receptors and the canonical signal transduction utilized by receptor classes such as G-protein coupled receptors, receptor tyrosine kinases, and ligand-gated ion channels. Lastly, module 3 will focus on pharmacokinetics which entails drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.  Each module will be followed by a non-cumulative mid-term exam worth 20% of the overall grade with a final cumulative exam at the end of the semester also entailing 20% of the overall grade and the last 20% of the grade being dependent on attendance.

PHCL 3100: Pharmacology for Pre-Med and Life Science Students

• Session(s): Spring
• Credits: 2
• Course Directors: Dr. Li-Na Wei, Dr. Frank Burton, Dr. Michael Raleigh
• Prerequisites: College-level biology (biochemistry or physiology recommended)

This course is tailored for students interested in clinical medicine, biological science research, health care professions, or those just wanting a taste of how drugs work. The emphasis is on "therapeutic drugs," with the goal of preparing students for future success in modern medicine, research, industry, graduate schools, or other health science programs. This course covers different drug categories for major organ systems including the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the endocrine/reproductive systems, as well as drugs for disease conditions like cancer and infectious disease. This course is required for students pursuing a Pharmacology Minor.

PHCL 4001: Integrated Pharmacology Principles: Mechanisms of Drug Action

• Session(s): Spring
• Credits: 2
• Course Director: Dr. Carly Baehr
• Prerequisites: Biol 1009 or 1951/1951H and Chem 1015 or 1061 or 1071/1071H or 1081

This pharmacology course offers a comprehensive examination of the mechanisms of drug action, with an emphasis on understanding how drugs exert effects at the molecular and cellular level. Through course lectures, in-class discussion, and reading research papers, students will explore key principles in pharmacodynamics (how drugs interact with molecular targets, influence cellular pathways, and produce therapeutic effects), pharmacokinetics (what mechanisms regulate the process of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination), and pharmacogenomics (how individual genetic variations contribute to drug response). The course will also introduce the process of drug discovery and development, and how researchers establish drug efficacy and safety in preclinical studies and clinical trials. No previous knowledge of pharmacology is necessary, though introductory biology and chemistry are required.

PHCL 4003: Pharmacology of Microbes and Infectious Diseases 

• Session(s): Spring
• Credits: 2
• Course Director: Dr. Cheuk Leung
• Prerequisites: None

Infections caused by microbes significantly impact global health. This course explores the principles of anti-infective drugs through their mechanisms of action on the biology of microbial life cycles and infections. Different modules of the course will cover viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa, with a focus on discussing the features of these microbial pathogens that are exploited for pharmacological targets. Students will explore the pharmacological principles behind major drug classes and their mechanisms for targeting pathogens. The course will examine the cellular and molecular basis of drug action, efficacy, limitations, resistance, and current challenges. Each module will also include the discussion of a recent research paper, allowing students to apply the principles learned in that module to explore emerging topics in the development of novel anti-infective drugs. By understanding the principles and mechanisms of anti-infective drugs, students will gain a solid foundation in current medicines used for treating infectious diseases and a strong basis for building further knowledge on the application and development of novel anti-infective agents.

PHCL 4010: Current Research Topics in Pharmacology

• Session(s): Fall
• Credits: 2
• Course Director: Dr. Cheuk Leung, Dr. Carly Baehr
• Prerequisites: Upper division or instructor consent (PHCL 2001 or 3100 recommended)

Students will dive into diverse disciplines of pharmacology research in this interactive course. The course consists of research seminars, discussion sessions, and a group project on a contemporary pharmacology agent. Principal Investigators will lead research seminars and give firsthand insights into challenges and discoveries in diverse areas of pharmacology research. Through working on a collaborative project, students will learn to dissect research literature, present with clarity, and engage in scientific dialogue surrounding drug innovation.

PHCL 4020: Chemotherapy: From Current Anticancer Drugs to Future Cancer Therapeutics

• Session(s): Fall
• Credits: 3
• Course Director: Dr. Cheuk Leung, Dr. Hai Dang Nguyen
• Prerequisites: College-level biology

This course covers therapeutic agents used for cancer treatment. The biological basis, mechanisms of action, side effects, and various treatment challenges of anti-cancer agents, ranging from traditional chemotherapy drugs to targeted therapeutics and immunotherapy, will be discussed. Students will also learn about the process of drug discovery and development.

PHCL 4343: Pharmacology of the Synapse

• Session(s): Fall
• Credits: 3
• Course Director: Dr. Anna Lee
• Prerequisites: Upper division or instructor consent (PHCL 2001 or 3100 recommended)

This hybrid course studies the synapse as a pharmacological gateway to the nervous system. Students explore the physiology of and signaling at the synapse, as well as the genes, molecules, and pathways that influence synaptic transmission. Students will connect changes in synaptic signaling to conditions such as Parkinson's disease, depression, anxiety, pain, and addiction. Students will also explore how various drugs modify signaling at the synapse and how this translates into physiological effects at the whole organism level.

PHCL 4993: Directed Study 

• Session(s): Fall, Spring, Summer
• Credits: 1-3/term (no more than 6 credits total)
• Course Director: Dr. Cheuk Leung
• Prerequisites: Instructor consent

This course involves individual study ("dry lab" experience) on selected topics in pharmacology with a faculty mentor. The emphasis of this course is on readings and the use of scientific literature.

PHCL 4994: Directed Research 

• Session(s): Fall, Spring, Summer
• Credits: 1-3/term (no more than 12 credits total)
• Course Director: Dr. Cheuk Leung
• Prerequisites: Instructor consent, departmental consent

This course involves laboratory research ("wet lab" experience) in the areas of pharmacological/biomedical research. Each student identifies their faculty mentor and conducts a research project in the faculty mentor’s laboratory.

PHCL 5108: Introduction to Laboratory Research

• Session(s): Fall
• Credits: 5
• Course Director: Dr. Ezequiel Marron
• Prerequisites: student in MPaT (MS track) or Course Director consent

This course provides students with practical experience in a biomedical research laboratory, with a focus on developing and refining skills required for productive and safe lab work. Topics covered in this class include lab safety, proper use of equipment, making solutions and related calculations, and fundamental concepts and techniques in molecular biology and signal transduction. Key course concepts and content will be reinforced by conducting experiments in the lab under the supervision of an experienced instructor. This is a required course for first-year graduate students in the MPaT (MS track).

PHCL 5109: Introduction to Scientific Communication

• Session(s): Spring
• Credits: 4
• Course Directors: Dr. Ezequiel Marron, Dr. Carly Baehr
• Prerequisites: student in MPaT (MS track) or Course Director consent

This course is an interactive classroom experience focused on developing student communication skills. The primary emphasis is on student presentations of their research projects. In addition to making oral presentations, students are expected to provide constructive criticism and feedback to their peers. Students also work on scientific writing skills by preparing an NIH-style Specific Aims page outlining their research projects. This is a required course for first-year graduate students in MPaT (MS track).

PHCL 5110: Introduction to Pharmacology

• Session(s): Fall
• Credits: 3
• Course Directors: Dr. Colin Campbell, Dr. Steven Graves
• Prerequisites: student in MPaT (MS or PhD track) or Course Director consent

This course introduces students to the basic principles of pharmacology, with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms of drug action. Topics covered in the course include pharmacodynamics, signal transduction pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenomics. This course is required for all first-year students in MPaT (MS & PhD tracks) and is open to graduate students from other programs and to undergraduates with suitable backgrounds and Course Director consent.

PHCL 5111: Pharmacogenomics in Personalized Medicine

• Session(s): Spring
• Credits: 3
• Course Director: Dr. Colin Campbell
• Prerequisites: BIOL 1009 or 1951/1951H and CHEM 1061 or 1071/1071H or 1081, or Instructor Consent

This interactive, discussion-based course explores human genetic variation and its implications for pharmacology in personalized medicine, with a focus on pharmacogenomics, toxicogenomics, and proteomics. Students will examine how genetic differences influence drug responses, including medication effectiveness, toxicity, and overall health outcomes. The course combines principles from functional genomics and proteomics to understand individual variability in drug metabolism and therapeutic responses. Through in-depth discussions, students will explore how genetic factors impact drug development, personalized medicine, and health care strategies.

PHCL 5112: Foundations of Biomedical Research

• Session(s): Fall
• Credits: 4
• Course Directors: Dr. Mike Sheedlo, Dr. Meghan Driscoll
• Prerequisites: student in MPaT (PhD track) or Course Director consent

This course will introduce graduate students to concepts needed to be successful in a scientific research laboratory. Over the duration of this course there will be: an introduction to the scientific method and principles of experimental design, and an overview of data analysis techniques, including basic biostatistics and machine learning. All material presented in this course will place an emphasis on how these topics relate to modern pharmacology.

PHCL 5993: Directed Study 

• Session(s): Fall, Spring, Summer
• Credits: 1-3/term (no more than 6 credits total)
• Course Director: Director of Graduate Studies
• Prerequisites: Instructor consent, departmental consent

This course involves individual study ("dry lab" experience) on selected topics in pharmacology with a faculty mentor. The emphasis of this course is on readings and the use of scientific literature.

PHCL 5994: Directed Research 

• Session(s): Fall, Spring, Summer
• Credits: 1-3/term (no more than 12 credits total)
• Course Director: Director of Graduate Studies
• Prerequisites: Instructor consent, departmental consent

This course involves laboratory research ("wet lab" experience) in the areas of pharmacological/biomedical research. Each student identifies their faculty mentor and conducts a research project in the faculty mentor’s laboratory.

PHCL 8100: Laboratory Research in Pharmacology

• Session(s): Fall, Spring
• Credits: 1-4
• Course Director: MPaT Director of Graduate Studies
• Prerequisites: student in MPaT (MS or PhD track)

This is the formal course designation for lab rotations, immersion experiences required of students in MS (Plan A/B) and PhD program tracks. During lab rotations, students gain exposure to research questions and related techniques under the supervision of a Graduate Faculty member. 

PHCL 8200: SciComm I: Critical Analysis & Publishing

• Session(s): Fall
• Credits: 2
• Course Directors: Dr. Justin Drake, Dr. Michael Lipscomb
• Prerequisites: student in MPaT (PhD track)

This course will focus on how to critically evaluate and comprehend the scientific literature, properly present scientific literature/figures, and critique presentations related to the field of pharmacology and therapeutics. Students will get an opportunity to present the literature in front of their peers as well as moderate a question and answer session related to these literature presentations, empowering the students to engage in critical scientific dialogue. This is a required course for students in MPaT (PhD track).

PHCL 8211: Advanced Pharmacology 

• Session(s): Spring
• Credits: 5
• Course Director: Dr. Colin Campbell, Dr. Lauren Slosky
• Prerequisites: successful completion of PHCL 5110; student in MPaT (MS or PhD track)

This hybrid course offers a combination of online and in-class lectures with interactive literature discussion and flipped classroom components. The course has three modules: 1) Drug Target Identification. This module focuses on the analysis of 'big-data', with an emphasis on novel anti-cancer drug target identification from transcriptomic/proteomic datasets. 2) Drug Target Validation. This module highlights the use of animal models as tools for pharmacological discovery, with a focus on neurological and psychiatric drug target validation. 3) Drug Discovery and Development. This module covers strategies for identifying new small molecule and biological probes for known targets and moving promising leads to and through clinical trials. Throughout, course instructors will highlight key features of currently utilized therapeutic agents and underscore recent advances in basic and clinical research that underpin emerging or potential approaches to pharmacotherapy.

PHCL 8220: The Ethical Scientist

• Session(s): Spring
• Credits: 1
• Course Director: Dr. Sade Spencer
• Prerequisites: student in MPaT (MS or PhD track)

This course focuses on scientific integrity in research and medicine. Topics discussed in class include best practices for experimental design, data collection and analysis, regulatory requirements for human and animal studies, collaboration and authorship practices, and other social and ethical issues. This is a required course for students in MPaT(MS & PhD tracks).

PHCL 8221: SciComm II: Writing & Research Presentation

• Session(s): Fall
• Credits: 2
• Course Director: Dr. Tanya Freedman, Dr. Brady Atwood
• Prerequisites: student in MPaT (PhD track)

This course is designed to teach skills in oral and written scientific communication, with the developing thesis research project serving as the focal point. Throughout the class, participants will be expected to engage with their advisors in strategic planning of their thesis research project, become knowledgeable about the state of their respective fields and associated literature, develop critical thinking skills, provide constructive feedback to their peers, and practice self-advocacy with their mentors, colleagues, and classmates in soliciting constructive criticism.

PHCL 8555: Master's Project

• Session(s): Fall, Spring, Summer
• Credits: 5 credits
• Course Director: Director of Master's Studies
• Prerequisites: student in MPaT (MS track)