PM2PCOL1-Molecular Drug Targets

Module Provider: Pharmacy
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Summer term module
Pre-requisites: PM1PCOL1 Principles of Drug Action
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Gary Stephens
Email: g.j.stephens@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module will teach application of pharmacology to physiological systems from molecule to patient. A molecular, cellular and systems level approach to the study of drug action towards treatment of disease in cardiovascular, renal and respiratory systems that will develop from core skills introduced in Part 1 Principles of Drug Action. This module introduces students to concepts of pharmacology and integrates physiology, chemistry, therapeutics and practice with a focus on molecular drug targets in renal, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Practical classes, interactive lectures and workshops will support pharmacological concepts. Science and practice concepts from all cognate disciplines that link to drug action on key molecular drug targets will be taught. These include: physiology and pathology of renal, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, medicine development and delivery and medicines management. Together, these concepts will develop an understanding of key molecular drug targets and relevant pharmaceutical issues in a range of fundamental areas of drug and medicines use.

Aims:

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of how drugs act on specific molecular targets within fundamental physiological systems. This is set in the context of human renal, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and related drug action with strong integration of physiology themes taught during the first year. The module also provides the basis for further pharmacology modules taught in later years. To achieve that, the core science and practice concepts detailed in the summary above will be taught using an appropriate range of teaching activities.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• Discuss the molecular targets of common drugs used to treat diseases of the renal, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems.


• Develop skills and knowledge of drug design and synthesis for drugs used to treat renal, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases.


• Discuss risks factors, aetiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology and symptoms of the most important renal, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases


• Discuss, examine and choose the more appropriate pharmacological approaches of the above diseases


• Communicate effectively to a wider audience.

Additional outcomes:

Working in small groups during laboratory practical classes and workshops and engaging in a multidisciplinary team-based working will:

• Improve team-working skills, such as leadership, motivating and working with others, and contribute to identifying the learning and development needs of team members through coaching and feedback


• Communicate effectively within a team and communicate findings to a wider audience.


• Improve self-directed learning.

Outline content:

Drug action at molecular targets in human diseases of renal, respiratory and cardiovascular systems: lectures, interactive lectures, workshops, specialized seminars (delivered by external speakers from pharmaceutical industry and/or health care professionals investigating respiratory and/or cardiovascular areas) will provide an integrated understanding of applied pharmacology. 

Renal diseases and therapeutics: Series of lectures that cover molecular drug targetsin the renal system, aetiology and pathology of the major diseases of the kidneys, and formulations for drug delivery to the renal system. Activities will:

• Discuss the key drugs for the management of renal conditions with reference to the drug structure-activity relationship, stability and design for appropriate drug forms to deliver to target together with pharmacokinetics of drugs acting on the renal system


• Focus on molecular targets of drugs used to treat diabetes insipidus, acute and chronic kidney disease asthma, urinary incontinence, benign prostatic hypertrophy, kidney disease and associated diseases such as hypertension. Provide students with insights on dosage, form and delivery of drug.

Respiratory diseases and therapeutics: Series of lectures that cover the molecular drug targets, aetiology and pathology of the major diseases of the respiratory tract, and formulations for drug delivery to the lung with practical. Activities will:

• Discuss the key drugs for the management of respiratory conditions with reference to the drug structure-activity relationship, stability and design for appropriate drug forms to deliver to target i.e., respiratory system.


• Focus on molecular targets of drugs used to treat asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, community and hospital acquired pneumonia cough and cystic fibrosis.


• Cover aspects of asthma and COPD clinical management providing students with insights on advices on correct dosage, form and use of devices for delivery of drug.


• Formulations and devices for delivery to the lungs: administration of medicines to lungs; analysis of this route of administration to achieve both systemic and local effects e.g. nasal and systemic delivery of drugs; analysis of the different devices to be used and recommended e.g., type of inhalers. 


• Provide an overview of pathogenesis and therapeutics of other respiratory diseases.

Molecular drug targets in the cardiovascular system: series of lectures that cover the physiology, aetiology and pathology of the major diseases and condition affecting the cardiovascular system. Lectures and activities will:

• Discuss the key drugs for the management of cardiovascular conditions with integration to pharmaceutics and chemistry e.g., reference to the drug structure-activity relationship, stability and design for appropriate drug forms to deliver to target i.e. circulatory system.


• Focus on drugs to treat hypertension, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, atherosclerosis, thromboembolic prophylaxis and stroke, anaemia. Lectures will provide insights into disease’s symptoms, pharmacological management, drug effects and side effects, contraindication and interaction for medicines used to treat human diseases affecting the circulatory systems.


• Provide an overview of therapeutics of other cardiovascular conditions.


• Provide an overview of therapeutics of other cardiovascular conditions.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The course content will be provided through a mixture of formal lectures, interactive workshops using appropriate case studies, interactive lectures, practical laboratory classes, inter-professional learning activities including seminars delivered by specialised pharmaceutical industry professionals, supported by tutorial sessions.

Teaching and learning will be facilitated using AD Instrument Lab Tutor hardware and software exercises. Supplementary information and reading list will be provided by the lecturers and the available facilities for computer-aided literature searching for related material will enable students to improve independent-learning skills.

Practical classes associated with the module will reinforce fundamental concepts of pharmacology that underpin therapeutics and pharmaceutics areas.

Spirometry practical. This will use the LabTutor system to investigate spirometry to measure lung function and drugs that act to treat conditions such as asthma provide practical experience on fundamental pharmacology concepts and approaches to pharmacological characterisation of drugs and their effects. The practical will allow also provide appropriate skills and understanding for advanced therapeutics topics.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20
Seminars	4
Tutorials	2		3
Practicals classes and workshops	4
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	10
Exam revision/preparation	10
Revision and preparation	20		12
Group study tasks	5
Reflection	5	5
Total hours by term	80	5	15
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	60
Set exercise	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:

A 2-hour end of module written examination.

The examination for this module will require a narrowly defined time window and is likely to be held in a dedicated exam venue.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Spirometry practical write up (20%)

Medicine Information Monograph (20%) produce a monograph on drugs that affect diseases of renal, respiratory and cardiovascular physiological systems with a focus on chemical structure, pharmacological mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics and patient advice.

Formative assessment methods:

Formative assessment is provided through small group tutorials and workshops, instructor-, self-, and peer-led assessment and feedback. Worked examples and case studies encountered in tutorials will provide the opportunity for formative feedback from staff and peers as well as self-reflection.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

An overall module mark of 40% will be required

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment of coursework will be by resubmission of coursework or submission of equivalent pieces of work, as appropriate.  Reassessment of departmentally and university administered examinations will be by written examination, as appropriate.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Required text books: A wide variety of text books is available from the University library.  Students are not expected to purchase additional texts for this module

Printing and binding: There may be some printing costs linked to coursework – final submission will be electronic

Last updated: 30 March 2023