Experimental Pharmacology
| Module title | Experimental Pharmacology |
|---|---|
| Module code | CSC2027 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Erica Burnell (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 |
Module description
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and how they work. In this module, you will apply fundamental pharmacology concepts to a range of experiments designed to teach core laboratory techniques, data handling & analysis, and working practices in the field of pharmacology and drug development. You will explore the properties of drugs and their effects on living systems using a variety of pharmacology techniques in the lab and computational tools.
This is an optional module for 2nd year students taking CSC2005 Introduction to Pharmacology as a co-requisite, and as a recommended module to those on the Pharmacology and Therapeutics pathway.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to develop skills in a range of practical pharmacology techniques. For graduates to be employable in the field of pharmacology, core skills in experimental techniques, data handling and analysis are crucial.
In addition to introducing students to key techniques, this module will aim to develop skills in statistical analysis, accurate record keeping and communication as well as encouraging curiosity, resourcefulness and problem solving - skills vital for any workplace.
The benefits of practical classes and research-based learning are well established; this approach to teaching promotes self-learning and deep understanding, and students also find this type of learning engaging and interactive.
The assessments are designed to replicate a research environment (in academia or industry), where researchers would be expected to carry out tasks such as writing risk assessments, keeping an accurate record of experiments and presenting their work in meetings.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate your knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice in the planning and execution of your practical work
- 2. Use a range of pharmacological techniques
- 3. Collect, analyse and present data accurately using a range of quantitative methods
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Implement principles of good experimental design in the design of an experiment
- 5. Apply relevant pharmacological concepts to a range of techniques
- 6. Use appropriate statistical tests and interpret them correctly
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Communicate your results effectively using written and oral means
- 8. Work effectively in small groups to carry out experiments
- 9. Record information accurately (e.g. in a lab book)
- 10. Demonstrate effective planning and time management by completing experiments and assignments on time
Syllabus plan
The module’s precise content may vary from year to year, however an example of the overall structure is as follows:
Learning activities
There will be an introduction lecture outlining the module in detail, including intended learning outcomes and assessment procedures. There will also be a workshop on safety in the laboratory and Good Laboratory Practice, and a workshop on oral communication/presentation.
You will carry out 10 practical sessions: 5 lab-based practicals and 5 computer-based workshops. Each session will be associated with at least one other related session to form ~5 units.
Lab practicals could include experiments involving isolated/cultured cells, brain slice electrophysiology, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibacterial agents, enzymological techniques and exploration of pharmacokinetic properties.
Computer-based labs could include experimental design, analysis of imaging data, simulation of a behavioural experiment, explorations of computational tools used in pharmacology research, and quantitative structure-activity relationship study (QSAR) analysis.
For each unit, there will material to read/watch in preparation for the session. These may include short (~20 minute) videos highlighting the concepts involved and appropriate virtual lab simulations (e.g. Labster). All resources will be available on the module’s ELE page.
Assessments
For each unit, there will be a set of pre-lab questions to answer online. These could include knowledge of the concepts involved, safety aspects associated with experiments and calculations/data analysis in preparation for the practical.
For each unit, you will complete a post-lab write-up which could include an analysis of the results of their experiment and/or answering short questions based on the experiment.
There will be formative online questions to answer during the workshop in week 1, to help familiarise you with the format of the pre-lab questions. During the first session, you will fill out a worksheet/lab book which will be formatively assessed in the session.
You will also be allocated one experiment prepare a 5-minute presentation in a “lab meeting” format. This will be an in-person presentation (using slides), in a small group of 10-12 peers.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 115 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning & Teaching Activities | 1 | Lecture |
| Scheduled learning & Teaching Activities | 34 | Workshops/practical classes |
| Guided independent study | 55 | Consolidation videos, reading and web-based activities on ELE preparation for practical classes |
| Guided independent study | 45 | Writing up experiments |
| Guided independent study | 15 | Preparation for presentation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online questions | Approx. 5 questions | 1,4-5,10 | Verbal |
| In-lab worksheet | Approx. 1 page | 1-10 | Verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online prelab questions | 30 | Approx. 5 questions per unit (approx. 25 questions in total) | 1,4-5,10 | Verbal |
| Post-lab write-ups/questions | 60 | Approx. 1 page per unit (approx. 5 pages in total) | 1-10 | Written |
| Presentation (in person) | 10 | 5-minute | 5,7,10 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online pre-lab questions (30%), approx. 5 questions per unit | Online questions | 1,4,5,10 | Ref/def period |
| Post-lab write-up/questions (60%) approx. 1 page per unit | Post-lab write-up/questions | 1-10 | Ref/def period |
| Presentation (10%), 5 minutes | Online presentation | 5,7,10 | Ref/def period |
Re-assessment notes
RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES
The re-assessment of the pre-lab questions will consist of alternative questions to the original pre-lab ones.
Model data will be provided to students for post-lab write-up re-assessments.
If you are not able to present on your allocated day due to illness or other unavoidable circumstance, if possible you will be given the opportunity to present on another day. If this is not possible, re-assessment will be available in the form of an online presentation during the ref/def period.
Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: https://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Rang & Dale’s Pharmacology, 9th Ed.
- Salmon, M. Practical Pharmacology for the Pharmaceutical Sciences
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- Labster (links to relevant experiments will be provided on ELE)
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | CSC2005 Introduction to Pharmacology |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 21/02/2023 |
| Last revision date | 07/03/2023 |
