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Overview

The Clinical Pharmacology course will give you the skills to design, analyse, interpret and report clinical research and clinical trials. It focuses on understanding what a drug is doing to the body (pharmacodynamics), what happens to a drug in the body (pharmacokinetics), and how drugs work in terms of treating a particular disease. It is designed for scientists, physicians, clinical scientists and allied health professionals interested in the clinical development process.

Course detail

Clinical Pharmacology is the study of how drugs influence human physiology and the way the body responds. This understanding forms a vital part of the clinical development of new medicines. In the process of drug development, clinical pharmacologists are particularly important in understanding how the drug influences the natural physiological processes, as well as disease pathology and hence, they have a large role in designing clinical investigations, monitoring patients, exploring pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships and testing medicines in specific patient populations. The theme has been constructed to allow those individuals who have a basic foundation in either pharmacology and/or clinical science to expand their knowledge base beyond their initial field of specialisation and hence, to empower them to make critical decisions during the development of a medicine.

Teaching and assessment

We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver the modules on the course. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. There are 30 hours of lectures, seminars and workshops per module. Each module requires two to four hours of pre- reading and also exam preparation. The primary method of assessment for this course is a combination of coursework and online examinations. The MSc course also requires a research and dissertation based in the area of clinical pharmacology. Coursework contributes approximately 50% and examinations approximately 50% to your final mark.

Career prospects

It is expected that students who complete this course will be able to work in the pharmaceutical industry or in the clinical research arena. It is anticipated that modules and their international recognition will open up job opportunities that might have previously been beyond their reach and enhance their value to their employers. A clinical pharmacologist supports the discovery and development of new medicines, and improving understanding of existing ones. The Clinical Pharmacology Scientist aids in all aspects of medicine management. They provide specialist advice to healthcare professionals regarding medicines interactions and form a key part of groups aiming to translate novel therapeutics into medicines.