Drug Toxicology and Safety Pharmacology – (M.Sc.)

Contents

All students will study a common programme covering the following areas:

* Toxicology and Safety PharmacologyThe topics of toxicology and safety pharmacology, the principles of risk assessment, and the role of safety pharmacology in the drug development process and the methodology associated with drug evaluation.


* Preclinical Models for Drug DevelopmentThe use of experimental biological models in drug development including in vitro cell models, the development and use of in vivo models, ethical issues associated with animal testing with reference to the NC3R's strategy to improve these methods.


* Molecular Mechanisms of ToxicityThe molecular mechanisms underlying potential drug toxicities, methodology for identifying molecular mechanisms, and importantly the development of alternative strategies to in vivo testing for identifying and predicting drug safety.


* Research and Analytical MethodsThis module focuses on advanced laboratory techniques involved in preclinical drug development and evaluation. The module is assessed by a portfolio which demonstrates critical understanding and application of the techniques studies.


* Critical AppraisalThis module involves critical appraisal of the scientific literature on a current topic in safety pharmacology.


* Research ProjectAn individual scientific research project covers one-third of the credits of the MSc Safety Pharmacology course.



Assessment
Core modules are assessed by written examinations and by coursework and laboratory reports, structured exercises, essays, peer reviews, critical presentation of a research paper, preparing grant applications and standard operating procedures.

The critical appraisal and the research project are assessed by written reports and by an oral presentation and a viva voce, respectively.