UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

PHAR 300, CRN  818 Drug Action (3 credits; 3 hours weekly) Please take note that Dr. Edith Zorychta should be contacted directly for course approval forms, credit transfer forms, etc at edith.zorychta@mcgill.ca

E. Zorychta

This course covers the fundamental principles of pharmacology and toxicology. Frequently encountered drugs will be used as a focus to illustrate sites and mechanisms of action, distribution, metabolism, elimination and adverse side effects.

Prerequisites: BIOL 200, PHYG 209, PHYG 210 and one of BIOL 201 or ANAT/BIOC 212 or permission of instructor.
Begins:       September 1st, 2011
Ends:          December 6th, 2011
Time:          Tues. and Thurs., 10:00 - 11:30
Room:         McIntyre, room 522 (Palmer)

PHAR 301, CRN 439 Drugs and Disease (3 credits; 3 hours weekly)

G. Delbès

This course further explores the basic principles of pharmacology as illustrated by drugs used in the treatment of disease. Emphasis will be placed on drugs used for diseases prevalent in North America.

Prerequisites: PHAR 300 or permission of instructor.
Begins:        January 10th 2012

Ends:           April 12th 2012
Time:           Tues. & Thurs., 11:30 - 1:00
Room:          McIntyre, room 522 (Palmer)

PHAR 303, CRN 440 Principles of Toxicology (3 credits)  

M. Culty

Fundamental mechanisms by which toxic compounds damage a biological system (organelle, cell, organ, organism, ecosystem). Detection and quantification of toxicity and risk/benefit analysis are considered. Selected agents of current risk to human health or the environment are used as examples are evaluated in depth.

Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201 or BIOC 212, PHGY 209 and PHGY 210
Begins:        January 10th 2012
Ends:           April 12th 2012
Time:           Tues. & Thurs., 1:00 - 2:30
Room:          McIntyre, room 521 (Meakins)

PHAR 503, CRN  819 Drug Design and Development I (3 credits)

D. Maysinger

Different theme blocks focusing on selected drug(s) will be organized by the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacology (with contributions from industry). Each block will cover chemistry, mechanisms of action and steps in drug development. Lectures will be followed by discussions to convey ideas and principles in drug design.

Prerequisites: PHAR 301 and PHAR 303; or permission of instructor.
Begins:        September 7th 2011
Ends:           November 30th 2011
Time:           Wednesday, 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Room:          McIntyre, room 1345

Method of evaluation
1.     Participation in the class (presence and contribution to the discussions, questions etc) 25%
2.     Short take home exam (answers to two selected questions from the pool of questions provided by the lecturers) 75%

PHAR 504, CRN 441 Drug Design and Development II (3 credits)
(Not open to students who are taking or have taken CHEM 504)

D. Maysinger

Groups of 2-4 students with different academic backgrounds will form a team. Each team will select the lead compound, design the analogues, propose the preclinical and clinical studies, present possible untoward effects, and reasons for drug (dis)approval.

Prerequisites: PHAR 503, or permission of coordinator
Restrictions: U3 and graduate students. Students can register only with permission of coordinators.
Begins:         January 11th 2012
Ends:            April 11th 2012
Time:            Wednesday, 3:00 - 5:00
Room:           McIntyre, room 1345

Method of evaluation:
Seminar presentation-30% (20 minutes presentation +10 minutes questions)/person
Answering the questions-30%
Research paper-40% (review of the material presented by the individual)

NB: Each student will give a well structured independent presentation which will be thematically linked to the team's topic. The review (or research paper) should cover the material from the individual's oral presentation. It should reflect the understanding of the topic. List of references at the end  with all authors, title, journal ,the understanding of the topic.  vol., pp., year should be provided.

PHAR 558 - CRN 5596 Pharmacology Selected Topics (3 credits)

A. McKinney and T. Hebert

This course explores the changing nature of selected drug targets in light of advances in studying proteins in their native cellular milieu, in the context of intact tissues, organs and whole animals, highlighting several conceptual advances in pharmacological theory with bearing on how drug targets are viewed and characterized.

Prerequisite: PHAR 562 or permission of the instructor.
Corequisite: PHAR 563 or permission of the instructor.
Begins:         January 10th 2012
Ends:            April 12th 2012
Time:            Tues and Thurs, 2:30 - 4:00
Room:           McIntyre, room 1345

PHAR 562, CRN  820 General Pharmacology I (3 credits)

G. Almazan

This course covers topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular aspects and the nervous system; topics include molecular mechanisms of drug-action, cellular targets and rationale for therapeutics. Students will be required to examine and interpret scientific data and to participate in small group discussions.

Prerequisites: Phar 301
Restrictions: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.
Begins:        September 7th 2011
Ends:           December 5th 2011
Time:           Mon, 1:30 - 3:30 and Wed, 1:30 - 2:30
Room:          McIntyre, room 521 (Meakins)

PHAR 563, CRN 442 General Pharmacology II (3 credits)

D. Bernard

This advanced course covers selected topics in pharmacology of the endocrine, metabolic, and cardiovascular systems. Additional topics include: pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics, chronopharmacology, molecular structure in pharmacology, epigenetic targets in cancer chemotherapy, and stem cell therapies. Students will be required to examine and interpret scientific data and to participate in small group discussions.

Prerequisites: PHAR 301
Restrictions: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.
Begins:         January 9th, 2012
Ends:            April 16th 2012
Time:            Mon, 1:30 - 3:30 and Wed, 1:30 - 2:30
Room:           McIntyre, room 1345

PHAR 599, CRN 821 (2011-09)  (6 credits)
PHAR 599D1, CRN 822 (2011-09) (3 credits)
PHAR 599D2, CRN 857 (2012-01) (3 credits)

Pharmacology Research Project 

D. Maysinger and A. McKinney

This is a laboratory project course dealing with mechanisms involved in different pathologies and drug actions. Students select laboratories and supervisors and participate in the research activities in these laboratories. A student's work is evaluated based on a written report and oral presentation

Prerequisite: PHAR 562 and PHAR 563
Restrictions: U3 students with permission of instructors; students should consult instructors 3-4 weeks before registration.