SCV0718 - PHARMACOLOGY

courses

ID:

SCV0718

Duration (hours):

98

CFU:

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Annuale (23/09/2025 - 20/06/2026)

Course Objectives

The main goal of the course is to provide students with an updated knowledge of the major classes of drugs in current clinical use and their respective mechanisms of action, at a molecular, cellular and systemic level. The course is fundamental to build the backbone of students’ pharmacological advanced cultural skills necessary for all the professional profiles working in the biomedical field
The Pharmacology course consists of two modules: the “Pharmacology and Chemotherapy” module in term one, where specific aspects of systems pharmacology, including autonomic and cardiovascular pharmacology as well as chemotherapy of infectious diseases, will be discussed; the “Neuropsychopharmacology” module in term two, focused instead on drugs acting on the central nervous system. As a whole the course will provide students with a solid foundation in pharmacology

Course Prerequisites

To fully understand the topics addressed in the present course, students must possess basic notions of cellular biology, human physiology and general and molecular pharmacology

Assessment Methods

A written test (essay-based) will be administered at the end of each module of the course. It will be based on 3 open questions concerning different topics covered during the lessons and included in the program. Clear exposition of the topics and the use of adequate terminology are necessary to pass the exam. Students must achieve a minimum score of 18/30 to pass the test. The mark for the second module will also consider how active the student was during the journal club sessions, not only during their own presentation, but also in their participation in the other presentations. Top marks (greater than 28/30) and honours will only be awarded to students who present the journal club talks smartly, participate actively in them and in discussions during the course, and demonstrate the ability to list and discuss thoroughly the general principles underlying drug action and the major therapeutic approaches, as well as the ability to establish connections between the various topics of the course. The grades earned in each module will be averaged to obtain the final grade for the course.