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Pharmacology
Explore pharmacology from basic principles to applied pharmacology
This course is a part of
Understand central goals and challenges in drug discovery and drug development to optimise the work across specialist areas in your organisation.
This Pharmacology course offers a broad education in all pharmacological disciplines used for drug candidate selection.
Through lectures and workshops within in vitro pharmacology, in vivo disease animal models, pharmacokinetics and ADMET, the course offers participants to work with real challenges of ‘drug candidate pharmacological behavior’ in the drug development process.
The course offers high level pharmacological science as well as hands-on experience with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study design, data analysis and data interpretation.
Course content
The course will teach the basic concepts of general pharmacology. Emphasis is on pharmacokinetics with hands-on calculations. There is focus on experimental in vitro and in vivo tools and on animal experimental models for various diseases including modern experimental techniques.
The course covers the following areas:
- General pharmacology (pharmacodynamics)
- Pharmacokinetics (basic concepts, extra vascular dosing using a one-compartment model, IV administration using 1- and 2 compartment models, elimination: metabolism and excretion, hands-on calculation in an Excel spreadsheet)
- Exploratory pharmacology (measurement of pharmacological effect, safety pharmacology)
- In vitro pharmacology, concepts and methodology (ADME; biomarkers; metabolism; transporters)
- In vivo pharmacology, methodology (animal models for cardiovascular diseases, obesity, bone and joint diseases and pain; behavioural animal models.)
The course contains lectures and discussions throughout all aspects of applied pharmacology in drug discovery and developments processes. Experienced specialists from Leo Pharma, Novo Nordisk, Lundbeck and University of Copenhagen presents basic and applied pharmacology illustrated with state-of-the art examples. Whereas topics include in vitro and in vivo pharmacological drug candidate selection and ADMET drug candidate selection criteria, a special focus will be given to pharmacokinetic modeling, calculation and data interpretation. You will have good opportunities to network during discussion, workshops, and breaks.
The course is of the highest quality, especially the last two days have been intense with competent lecturers who have extensive knowledge of their area while they at the same time are able to convey their knowledge in an exciting and relevant way.
What I like about this course is that it is not only theory, mathematical formulas and dose response curves, but there is also focus on how we can use this in our daily work.
Course directors and lecturers on Pharmacology
Course details for Pharmacology
Dates and examination
Course dates
Lectures/group work: 31 March - 4 April 2025 + Monday 7 April 2025: on-site written examination
The course is available every second year.
Examination
Please find the exam dates in the exam plan.
You can find further information about the course and the exam in the course curriculum.
See an overview of all courses on Master of Industrial Drug Development.
Learning outcomes
During the course you will:
- Obtain basic and integrated understanding of pharmacology methodology in drug discovery and development disciplines
- Understand and conduct state-of the art calculations and data interpretations within pharmacokinetics and especially within pharmacodynamics
- Get broad understanding of all aspects of ADMET based drug candidate selections
- Understand basic validation of animal models for in vivo pharmacological drug candidate selection
- Understand and validate methods applied for in vitro pharmacological drug candidate selection
- Obtain a large overview of current state-of-the art pharmacology models
- Get professional communication skills within pharmacological terminology
Admission criteria
Professionals in need of interdisciplinary overview
The course is for professionals in the pharmaceutical industry who is interested in applied pharmacology in drug discovery and drug development processes with emphasis on pharmacokinetics with hands-on calculations.
Course specific academic qualifications
We recommend that applicants are familiar with linear and non-linear regression using MS Excel.
General admission criteria
- Hold a relevant bachelor degree or equivalent
- Have a minimum 2 years of relevant job experience in drug development
- Be proficient in English
Find detailed information in the admission criteria on Master of Industrial Drug Development.
You will receive a response to your application at the earliest on 1 December and no later than 2 weeks after the application deadline.
Priority is given to enrolled students
This course is offered as a compulsory course in the Master of Industrial Drug Development programme. Priority is given to students already enrolled. Once the enrolled students have been admitted to the course, the remaining seats are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tuition fees
EU/EEA citizens: 12,050 DKK
Non-EU/EEA citizens: 13,825 DKK
The fee includes lunch/coffee.
Place
University of Copenhagen
Department of Pharmacy /
Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology
Universitetsparken 2
2100 Copenhagen
Denmark
Contact
Annette Villumsen
Study Administration Officer
Tel.: +45 35 33 60 66