Pharmacology and Toxicology: Summer Course Offerings

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

The objective of this 7-week course is to be a consecutive course following the Introduction to Drug Discovery course. Professional toxicologists are expected to have knowledge the drug discovery, design, and project management process, from original academic and proof of concept research to technology transfer, patent applications, regulatory requirements for FDA approval, and business models for start-up companies or project acquisition. These are often minimal requirements for entry level toxicology jobs in government and industry. Students will be provided an opportunity to 1) discuss the project design and management principles necessary for a successful drug design and approval 2) learn the relevant factors of successful business models / team science applications, management structures 3) Use case study examples to develop an outline for a project plan and schedule for a drug or biologic. The course will also assist future academic researchers in understanding the requirements of drug development, design, and project management for any translational science opportunities with novel therapeutic compounds or biologics that they may develop. Grading of course performance will be standard letter grades, based on exams, individual projects, class participation/discussion, and attendance.

Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: III, 2nd 7 weeks
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Lecture 1-2
Instructor: Dr. Sol Bobst

The objective of this eight-week course will be to introduce the field and practice of drug discovery to Pharm/Tox graduate students. Professional toxicologists are expected to have knowledge the drug discovery process, from original academic and proof of concept research to technology transfer, patent applications, regulatory requirements for FDA approval, and business models for start up companies or project acquisition. These are often minimal requirements for entry level toxicology jobs in government and industry. Students will be provided an opportunity to 1) learn the requirements for selecting target compounds or biologics for therapeutic treatment 2) learn the requirements for proving the efficacy and proof of concept potential of the compound 3) learn the options for technology transfer and licensing, pre-clinical safety testing, and FDA regulations for drugs and biologics. The course will also assist future academic researchers in understanding the requirements of drug development for any translational science opportunities with novel therapeutic compounds that they may develop. Grading of course performance will be standard letter grades, based on exams, individual projects, class participation/discussion, and attendance.

Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: III, 1st 8 weeks
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Lecture 1-2
Instructor: Dr. Sol Bobst

This course is designed to advance the knowledge that graduate students receive in basic grant-writing skills from their mentor. At the same time, it will teach graduate students who have not learned the basic skills what they need to know in order to write a viable research fellowship or grant award application. The course will include topics on grantsmanship, writing specific aims, and research strategy sections, and writing a compelling biosketch/CV. A session on NRSA and other types of fellowships also will be provided. At the end of the course, participants should have achieved core competency in writing a grant as well as qualifying exam proposals that may take on a grant proposal form.  Satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades will be based on attendance, drafting the sections of the application, and participation in classroom 

Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: III, 2nd 7 weeks
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Lecture 2
Instructor: Dr. Thomas Green