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Pharmacology - BIO00063I

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  • Department: Biology
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

The subject of Pharmacology focuses on the mechanisms by which chemical entities (drugs, hormones, transmitters, toxins) affect the human body. It is a vital discipline in Biomedical Sciences and of particular relevance to understanding how to treat many pathologies manifest in a patient population. This module will consider the two core components of Pharmacology: pharmacokinetics - how drugs can be administered, their distribution within the body and ultimate metabolism and excretion, and pharmacodynamics - how drugs produce their effects at the level of molecular interactions within certain body systems. This module will prepare students for several stage 3 modules including ‘Mechanisms to Therapies’.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

This module will provide an understanding of the role that pharmacology plays in biomedical sciences. Students will gain a greater understanding of the mechanisms through which drugs interact with living systems to produce their effects. The basic principles that underlie these interactions and the factors that affect them are discussed. Students will learn about some of the physiological effects from drugs through their action on the cellular level, for example how drugs affect intracellular calcium, enzymes and muscles. In addition the course will consider genetic aspects of response to drugs, how unwanted toxic effects may occur and how new drugs are discovered and developed through pharmacological experimental approaches.

Module learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:

Describe the role of pharmacology in the study of disease

Explain the action of drugs and factors affecting the interactions of drugs with the human body

Outline the process of drug discovery and some of the key considerations when developing and administering new drugs

Discuss experimental approaches in pharmacological science.

Analyse and interpret data from basic pharmacological experiments

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Module feedback

Marks for all assessments will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision. Model answers will be provided for all Q&A type of assessments along with cohort-level feedback indicating how students answered questions in general. Individual comments will be added to your script and/or on a separate summary feedback document depending on the question type or assessment type. You should take the opportunity to discuss your marks and feedback with your supervisor.

During the teaching of the module you will receive feedback that may be at a whole class or individual level. Forms of feedback may include: model answers and discussion of workshop questions, summaries of performance in practicals, VLE-based quizzes, individual spoken comments during workshops, individual written comments on formative work.

Indicative reading

These are available through the VLE module site.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.