Available in 2024
Course code

PHAR4201

Units

10 units

Level

4000 level

Course handbook

Description

This course introduces students to the emerging fields of pharmacogenomics and personalized `precision' medicine that are now transforming the face of modern health care. Powerful modern technologies revolutionizing genomics and molecular medicine are creating unprecedented opportunities for patient-specific treatments and health care. The course helps students build their knowledge and understanding of these new fields and develop professional evidence-based approaches to keep apace of these fast-moving areas into the future.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Callaghan

  • Semester 2 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the molecular basis of responses to drugs and other therapeutics.

2. Explain the new field of precision medicine and how recent technological advances in areas such as genomics, pharmacogenomics and bioinformatics are revolutionising modern health care.

3. Discuss how modern pharmacogenomics differs from traditional pharmacogenetics and why this is important for clinical utility.

4. Provide balanced, critical evaluations of the benefits and limitations of important current and emerging technologies in these fields, including modern genotyping technologies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microarrays and next-generation sequencing.

5. Explain how genomics and other individual factors such as environment or lifestyle can influence drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

6. Apply evidence-based, systematic approaches to understanding and implementing pharmacogenomics and personalized health care.

7. Discuss the advanced concepts of multifactorial drug-gene interactions and maternal-fetal pharmacogenomics.

8. Perform balanced, evidence-based assessments of controversial issues and new information and concepts in these and other emerging fields.

9. Describe potential impacts of personalized healthcare for consumers, health professionals, industry, government and society and demonstrate responsible professional attitudes in relation to ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) in personalized health care.

10. Discuss probable future trends in applications of these fields in clinical practice.


Content

1. The molecular basis of disease and individual responses to drugs and other therapeutics including herbal and complementary medicines.

2.  Personalized precision medicine and the ‘new biology’ fields such as genomics and other big data ‘omics’, bioinformatics and systems biology that are transforming  health care and medicine.

3.   The transition from traditional pharmacogenetics to modern pharmacogenomics.

4.  Current and emerging technologies including modern genotyping technologies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microarrays and next-generation sequencing.

5.  Influence of genomics and other factors such as environment and lifestyle on individual pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, including drug targets.

6.  Systematic approaches to understanding and implementing pharmacogenomics, personalized health care and precision medicine in pharmacy practice.

7. Advanced pharmacogenomics concepts including multifactorial drug-gene  interactions and maternal-fetal pharmacogenomics.

8.   Controversies in pharmacogenomics and personalized health care and strategies for balanced, evidence-based assessment of new information and concepts.

9.   Ethical, legal and social issues and potential impacts of personalized health care for  consumers, health professionals, industry, government and society.

10.  Current and future applications in clinical practice.  


Requisite

To enrol in this course students must have successfully completed all 3000 level courses within the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) [12328] program and be active in this program.


Assumed knowledge

HUBS1202 Human Genomics and Biomolecular Analysis.


Assessment items

Formal Examination: Written Exam
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.

In Term Test: Written Exam - Mid-Semester

Quiz: Mini-Quizzes


Contact hours

Semester 2 - 2024 - Callaghan

Lecture-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 1 week(s)
  • Exam
Lecture-2
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per term
Tutorial-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 8 week(s)

Course outline

Course outline not yet available.