Pharmacology

Drugs play a key role in the treatment of most human diseases. Increasingly, doctors rely on drugs not only to cure disease, for example antibiotics and infections, but also in the prevention of diseases, such as lipid lowering drugs and heart disease. A thorough knowledge of pharmacology is increasingly important to the future of medical research and practice.

www.usyd.edu.au/pharmacology

What do Pharmacologists do?

Pharmacologists discover, design and test drugs. Some pharmacologists extract new drugs from plants and other living sources, some design and sythesise new chemicals for use as drugs.

Other pharmacologists test these new agents for use in the treatment of human disease. Others play an important role in ensuring that these new agents are used safely and not made available for use until their safety is established.

Pharmacologists play these roles in many different organisations: basic pharmacology research occurs in both universities and in pharmaceutical companies. Clinical trials are run usually by pharmaceutical companies working closely with clinical scientists.
Pharmacologists play key roles in both the conduct and analysis of these trials and in reviewing them for government before a drug is allowed on to the market. A special group of pharmacologists – toxicologists – play a particularly important role in the evaluation of the safety of drugs and other chemicals which may affect humans. Thus pharmacologists have a wide range of skills ranging from synthetic chemistry through molecular biology to epidemiology.

How do you study Pharmacology?

You can major in pharmacology in the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced) or Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree as well as in the Bachelor of Medical Science degree. Pharmacology is a substantial component of the medicinal chemistry major.

What will you study in Pharmacology?

• sites and mechanisms of drug action
• drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination
• relationships between drug activity and chemical structure. Drug action on the body systems, including the central and autonomic nervous systems, cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems
• the use of drugs in treating infection and cancer
• the social use of drugs
• drug design and development
• toxic effects of drugs

Further studies

Science students who undertake the fourth year Honours course carry out a research project under supervision.

Assessment of their work is by thesis and seminar presentations. Graduate courses offered include the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy.