Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a comprehensive program in System Pharmacology, focusing on signaling pathways. This program is designed for students in the Bachelor's program in Pharmacy, specifically in the third year, block 1-2.

Program Description

The program, SFABIL117U Systemfarmakologi - signalvejenes farmakologi, covers a wide range of topics including:

• Central nervous system structure and function, including drugs for psychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive problems, stress, epilepsy, substance abuse, and sleep.
• Biological rhythms.
• Pain perception physiology, including local, strong, and weak analgesics, as well as concepts of abuse and dependence.
• Endocrinology, including the physiology of hormone-producing organs and drugs such as antidiabetics, calcium-regulating hormones, growth hormones, thyroid hormones, anabolic steroids, contraceptives, and glucocorticoids.
• Anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, including liver and pancreas functions, digestion, and drugs affecting ventricular and intestinal functions.
• The organism's energy metabolism and temperature regulation, including drugs for obesity and antipyretics.
• Pharmacological considerations for drug interactions, patient stratification, and developmental stages.

Learning Objectives

The objective of the teaching is to provide students with anatomical/physiological knowledge of organ systems, their structure, function, and common pathologies, as well as understanding drug mechanisms of action, effects, and applications based on this knowledge.

Expected Outcomes

After completing the course, students are expected to:

• Explain anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology related to central nervous system, biological rhythms, pain perception, endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract, and temperature regulation.
• Describe the integrated function and regulation of single organs and the consequences of disturbances in these organs and organ systems.
• Explain commonly used drugs for treating these disturbances, their fate in the organism, effects, side effects, interactions, indications, and contraindications.
• Explain theories and methods for investigating drug effects (and side effects) on both healthy and diseased organisms.
• Explain the relationship between drug molecular mechanisms of action, effects on the organism, and therapeutic use.

Teaching Methods

The teaching consists of:

• 42 lectures covering the broad topics mentioned, with emphasis on areas that are experientially difficult for students to grasp.
• 4 double class hours with teaching in regulatory mechanisms (computer modeling with Jupyter Notebook/Python), central nervous system, endocrinology, and gastrointestinal tract + patient-related case.
• 1 laboratory exercise (4 hours) using PowerLab/LabStation based on CNS with topics EEG and reflexes.

Assessment

The examination is a written on-site exam, 3 hours with supervision. The exam set will cover a broad spectrum of the course content, including short questions about factual knowledge, analysis of a small dataset, a figure, or a case.

Course Information

• Language: Danish
• Course code: SFABIL117U
• ECTS points: 7.5
• Level: Bachelor
• Duration: 1 semester
• Placement: Block 1 and Block 2
• Schedule group: Primary schedule group A with parts of class teaching in other schedule groups
• Course capacity: 200 students

Study Board

• Study Board for Pharmaceutical Sciences

Offering Institute

• Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology

Offering Faculty

• Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Course Responsible

• Uffe Kristiansen

Teachers

1. Kristi Kohlmeier
2. Uffe Kristiansen
3. Anne-Marie Heegaard
4. Jesper T. Andreasen
5. Stephan A. Pless, et al.

Workload

• Category:
  • Lectures: 42 hours
  • Class teaching: 8 hours
  • Preparation (estimated): 149 hours
  • Laboratory: 4 hours
  • Exam: 3 hours
  • Total: 206 hours

Feedback Form

Oral

Enrollment

Self-service on KUnet

Exam

• Point: 7.5 ECTS
• Exam form: Written on-site exam, 3 hours with supervision
• Exam details: The exam set will be composed of about 10 tasks covering a broad spectrum of the course content.
• Aids: No aids allowed
• A formula collection will be available during the exam.

Assessment Criteria

To achieve the grade 12, the student must:

• Explain anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology related to the mentioned organ systems/functions/conditions.
• Describe the integrated function and regulation of single organs and the consequences of disturbances in these organs and organ systems.
• Explain commonly used drugs for treating these disturbances, their fate in the organism, effects, side effects, interactions, indications, and contraindications.
• Explain theories and methods for investigating drug effects (and side effects) on both healthy and diseased organisms.
• Explain the relationship between drug molecular mechanisms of action, effects on the organism, and therapeutic use.