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MVSTIB Man, Molecules and the Environment
University of Cambridge >  School of the Biological Sciences > Faculty of Biology > MVST courses > MVSTIB  Options
 

Course Organiser: Dr Brian Billups, Department of Pharmacology (e-mail: bjb41@cam.ac.uk)

Aims and Objectives

In the core MODA course, emphasis is placed on the mechanisms of actions of drugs. However, in clinical practice, the adverse "side-effects" of drugs are a constant problem requiring practitioners to make continual risk/benefit analyses when prescribing drugs. The MME options course addresses some of these issues.

The course therefore provides an introduction to the variety and nature of these adverse effects that collectively provide a constant challenge to drug companies trying to introduce new therapeutically valuable drugs. In addition, the course will address some of the problems encountered as a result of exposure to potential hazards, both water-borne and air-borne, present within our environment.

By the end of the course, students should have a more intimate knowledge of the basis of a number of adverse reactions that often result from administration of clinically useful drugs. The student should be able to relate this material to the information already provided from within the main MODA course and to appreciate the relevance of such adverse reactions to what they will encounter in their forthcoming clinical courses.

Lectures

These will be held in the Department of Pharmacology Lecture Theatre on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 11 a.m., except for three instances where an additional 10-11 a.m. slot will be inserted and the lecture on Thursday 14th March, which is at 2pm. The schedule for 2013 is as follows.

Lecture 1
(B J Billups / M A Barrand)

 

Tuesday, 26 February, 11-12

Introduction to course / Cellular and molecular basis of toxicity I

Lecture 2
(M A Barrand)		 Thursday, 28 February, 10-11 Cellular and molecular basis of toxicity II
Lecture 3
(C Palmer)		 Thursday, 28 February, 11-12

Clinical aspects of drug testing I

Lecture 4
(M A Barrand)

Tuesday, 05 March, 11-12

Types of adverse drug reactions I
Lecture 5
(M A Barrand)		 Thursday, 07 March, 10-11 Types of adverse drug reactions II
Lecture 6
(C Palmer)		 Thursday, 07 March, 11-12 Clinical aspects of drug testing II
Lecture 7
(A Cahn)		 Tuesday, 12 March, 11-12 Developing safe drugs
Lecture 8
(C Acerini)		 Thursday, 14 March, 2-3pm Environmental assaults on the endocrine system
Lecture 9
(S Nasser)		 Thursday, 25 April, 10-11 Allergy, asthma and the environment
Lecture 10
(A Cahn)		 Thursday, 25 April, 11-12 Effects of smoke on the lungs
Lecture 11
(S B Hladky)		 Tuesday, 30 April 11-12 Toxicity of insecticides
Lecture 12
(M A Barrand / B J Billups / A Cahn)		 Thursday, 02 May, 11-12 Resume

The final lecture/seminar is intended as a session to reflect on the material covered in the course, to allow some discussion, and to provide advice on the types of questioning likely to appear in the examination.

Teaching in this course will include videos/discussions and seminars:

These will take place during afternoon sessions (2-5pm) on Tuesdays, 26 February (repeated on Thursday 28 February at 2pm for those unable to attend 26 February), 05 March and 12 March, in the Pharmacology Lecture Theatre.

Seminar titles:

Tuesday, 05 March: "Drugs and sudden cardiac death"; to be given by Dr Andrew Grace.

Tuesday, 12 March: "Adverse reactions to foods: the origins, mechanisms and future treatment of food allergy"; to be given by Dr Andrew Clark

Practical

A practical will be held at 2-5pm on Tuesday, 30 April and repeated on the afternoons of Wednesday 01 May and Thursday 02 May. As numbers are contrained students will be assigned to a particular afternoon but may agree a reciprocal swap with another member of the class if this is more convenient with them. This will be situated in the Pharmacology Teaching Lab.

Method of Assessment:

This will be by essay questions. Candidates will be required to choose two questions from five.


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