Pharmacology

The aim of the Pharmacology BSc degree programme is to produce scientists with a sound understanding of the biological action of drugs and chemicals, the way they work at the molecular, cellular and systems level and their use in medicines for the treatment of disease. It thus provides an ideal grounding for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or general biomedical research and for graduate entry to Medicine. However, the transferrable skills acquired, including data gathering, analysis and interpretation, presentation skills and team-work prepare you for graduate careers with a wide range of public and private sector employers.

All students are initially admitted onto the three-year Pharmacology BSc programme. However, conditional upon suitable performance in the first-year examinations, students may switch onto our four-year BSc Pharmacology with Extramural Year. Others may wish to specialise later in integrative, whole animal studies in which case they may progress, at the end of Year 3, onto our MSci Integrated Pharmacology and Physiology for Research.

Year One
The first year of study is common to all degree programmes within the School of Biomedical Sciences. This so-called Common Year One programme introduces you to a broad range of subjects that provide a firm foundation for subsequent specialisation in pharmacology. In addition to pharmacology, modules cover biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, physiology, cell and tissue structure and function, neuroscience, statistics and issues related to the practice of science, including ethics and communication. This broad curriculum also allows flexibility to switch between programmes in subsequent years, if this is desired. First year is largely examined by multiple-choice and short answer type questions and makes up around ten percent of the final degree mark.

Year Two
In year two, Pharmacology becomes the main focus of study. The courses allow a greater degree of self-directed study and are examined by essay-style examination questions and a range of different types of in-course assessments, including the writing up of practical experiments, oral and poster presentations. This year comprises about 30% of the final degree mark. Three core modules are taken.

Drug Discovery & Development is taught partly by experts from the pharmaceutical industry and offers insight into the process of drug discovery from the molecule to the bedside, as well as increasing practical skills for our students.

Drugs & Disease emphasises the mechanisms by which drugs in clinical use for a variety of diseases bring about their desired effects as well as unwanted side-effects. Oral and poster presentation skills are introduced as part of this module, alongside additional practical work.

Physiology & Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System gives an understanding of how electrical and chemical communication at synapses occurs and of how the functioning of neural circuits can be modified by transmission of information and drugs that are used therapeutically.

A number of optional modules also exist, such as:

Animal Models of Disease and Injury which provides students with an appreciation of the issues surrounding the use of animals in biomedical research, an understanding of how animal models can be used in "cutting edge research" and practical experience of carrying out experimental investigations in whole organisms;

Psychology, which is the scientific study of mental processes and human behaviour. Students gain the opportunity to discuss and evaluate the principal psychological findings and theories on cognitive, developmental, social and clinical psychology;

Medical Microbiology which examines a range of microorganisms that can give rise to human disease;

Foreign Language courses are available at the King’s Modern Language Centre.

Optional year in industry/research
Following completion of their second year, about a quarter of our students opt to take an extramural year. If you choose this route you may take up a research placement at home or abroad, to gain valuable first-hand experience of research. Previous placement have included GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly & Co Ltd., Novartis and the William Harvey Research Institute. On returning to the College for the final year, a student’s performance during the extramural year is assessed through a written dissertation and poster presentation.

Final year
Final year modules strongly reflect the research interests of our staff and some courses place great emphasis on developing practical expertise. The core module covers Cellular Pharmacology, emphasising aspects relevant to the understanding of drug receptor, structure and function, and theories of drug dependence. All of our students also take a project module. Those offered include Literature, Drug Discovery and Experimental Research Projects. This allows the student to examine a particular area of pharmacology, from molecular pharmacology through to clinical pharmacology, in greater depth through the appraisal of published literature or by undertaking a laboratory-based project. This year contributes around 60% to the overall degree mark.

A wide range of optional modules are available including:

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology. Examines the detailed mechanisms of drugs acting on the electrical and mechanical activity of the heart and vascular system alongside experimental models of cardiovascular disease.
• Pharmacology of Inflammation. Provides up-to-date information about the roles of the cells and endogenous substances (mediators) in acute and chronic inflammation and how these ideas underpin the use and development of drugs for treating inflammatory diseases like asthma and arthritis.
• Pharmacology of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders. Examines the pharmacology and pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and how this knowledge informs the use of current drugs and future drug development for treating these conditions.
• Drug Safety and Toxicology. Enables students to develop a breadth of understanding and critical appraisal of safety pharmacology and toxicology studies that are undertaken during the drug discovery and development process.

Optional MSci in Integrated Pharmacology & Physiology for Research
At the end of the 3-year BSc programme, some students opt to carry out a further year of study at King's to obtain specialist training in integrative models of disease. The MSci in Integrated Pharmacology & Physiology for Research provides theoretical and practical training in state-of-the-art whole organism techniques to facilitate gaining relevant employment in industry or academia. Students also undertake a six-month research project with an industrial partner or leading academic.