Learning objectives
The course of EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY aims to enable the student TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND the pharmacological investigation techniques applied in the research and drug development (functional studies, binding, biochemical tests, holistic and reductionist systems, pre-clinical, clinical and observational studies) and to develop the student's ability TO USE THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ACQUIRED, so that at the end of the course he will be able to propose experimental approaches to be taken in the characterization of drugs, the student should correctly and critically interpret the results of virtual experiments demonstrating INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGMENT, LEARNING ABILITY AND COMMUNICATION
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy
Course unit content
The lessons concern EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY insights, from a theoretical point of view and practical aspects related to the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics (with determination of their quantitative parameters), and detailed description of the experimental methods applied in the study of the effects of drugs in systems with different degree of complexity. Practical lessons deal with the production and acquisition of the experimental results, also processing statistical data and their interpretation in the light of scientific literature and their communication.
Full programme
The course consists of lectures and practical exercises on the following topics:
Aims and importance of experimentation in Pharmacology. Legislation for use and care of animals in the scientific research. Principles of 3R.
Experimental approach for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of biological responses: experimental design, sources of variability, methods and techniques in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro functional and binding studies, clinical trials.
Experimental models for the study of therapeutic efficacy of new molecules. Transgenic animals.
Pharmacokinetic aspects: mode of administration in vivo and pharmacokinetics in vitro.
Elements of molecular pharmacology: drug-receptor interaction, agonists and antagonists, potency and efficacy, affinity and intrinsic efficacy of drugs; evolution of receptor theory, stimulus-response coupling systems, processes of desensitization.
Bioassay: Unit biological and international standards.
Cell culture and molecular biology techniques (western blot, PCR).
Assessment of toxicity and definition indexes handling of drugs: safety pharmacology, explorative and regulatory toxicity studies.
Clinical and observational studies, metanalysis.
Elements of statistics and application examples: individual variations in the biological response, the frequency distribution curve, probit, the confidence limits of the mean, parametric (t-test, analysis of variance) and non-parametric tests linear regression analysis.
Meaning and analysis of the experimental data with the use of statistical programs.
Discussion of a bibliographic research prepared by groups of students
Bibliography
Teaching material is made available by the teacher in electronic copy
GOODMAN & GILMAN S. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics McGraw-Hill
DOLARA P, FRANCONI E, MUGELLI A: Farmacologia e Tossicologia Sperimentale Pitagora Editrice, Bologna.
PAOLETTI R et al: Farmacologia generale e molecolare UTET
KENAKIN T: A Pharmacology Primer, Elsevier
Teaching methods
The teaching is done through lectures supplemented by individual and group exercises.
The theoretical aspects of experimental pharmacology ( dose-response relationship, gradual and quantal curves, determination of potency and affinity for agonists and antagonists) are applied in practical lessons with student participation in drug assays conducted in the laboratory or simulations of experiments performed in classroom or exercises in statistical analysis of data. Groups of students are invited and driven in the organization and presentation of seminars, through consultation of bibliographic sources. These activities are designed to reinforce in each student the ability TO INTEGRATE KNOWLEDGE, TO ANALYZE CRITICALLY complex issues and TO COMMUNICATE clearly their own conclusions.
Assessment methods and criteria
The assessment of the achievement of the objectives of the course consists of an oral examination. Through questions regarding the theoretical content of the course it will be determined whether the student has achieved the goal of KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING of the basic principles of pharmacological experimentation. Through questions regarding virtual experimental situations it will be determined whether the student has the ability of APPLYING THE ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE and to solve new and complex problems through arguments that demonstrate the ACQUISITION OF LEARNING SKILLS AND FORMULATION OF AUTONOMOUS JUDGMENTS
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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