Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry III

This is the third course of the pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry series which heavily emphasize drugs used in the treatment of infectious diseases and neurological disorders (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Epilepsy etc.) including headache disorders and multiple sclerosis. The course provides a review of the general principles of chemistry including the description of drugs, functional groups, pharmacophores, drug-receptor interaction, stereoisomers, optical isomers, physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of a drug, drug absorption, distribution, and metabolism. There is also a portion that delves into the principles of pharmacology including the basic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles of drug action. The pharmacology and medicinal chemistry of drugs used for the treatment of disease states are investigated with an integrated approach in explaining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of drug effects on the human body (i.e., pharmacodynamics) as well as how the human body affects the drugs (i.e., pharmacokinetics). Students are expected to gain a fundamental and practiced knowledge of the principles of drug action mechanisms to treat neurological conditions and variety of infectious diseases. Students should be able to explain and predict outcomes based on the principles of pharmacology, toxicology and medicinal chemistry including pharmacogenomics.