M.Sc. Pharmacology and Toxicology

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Master of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology

M.Sc. Pharmacology and Toxicology

1. List of Academic Staff

Name	Status and Qualification	Research Interests
Oyeronke M. Aiyelero	Lecturer I & Coordinator B.Pharm., M.Sc. (ABU, Zaria), Ph.D. (OAU, Ile-Ife)	Neuropharmacology, Ethnopharmacology
Rashidat O. Ayanniyi	Reader B.Pharm. (Jos); PGDE (Ilorin); M.Sc. (Jos); Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria)	Ethnopharmacology, Cardiovascular pharmacology, Toxicology
M. O. Amali	Senior Lecturer B.Pharm. (Jos); M.Sc. (OAU, Ile-Ife); Ph.D. (Liverpool)	Immunopharmacology
*Moji       T.                Bakare- Odunola	Professor B.Sc. (Maiduguri); M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria)	Pharmacokinetics
*M. T. Yakubu	Professor B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ilorin)	Toxicology, Endocrinology

* Lecturers from other Department

B.    Introduction

The M.Sc. programme in Pharmacology and Toxicology seeks to provide the theoretical and practical knowledge required in industries, academia and for advanced research studies. The graduate education embodies the principles and mechanisms of drug action and adverse effects of chemical substances on biological systems. The core areas include molecular, cellular, organ systems Pharmacology and Toxicology.

C.  Philosophy

The postgraduate programme, M.Sc. in Pharmacology and Toxicology will lead to improved capacity building in health care delivery, academia and research which is particularly important for sustainability of human capital development in research institutes, health sector and national development. It is based on the acquisition of appropriate knowledge and skills, abilities and competences by beneficiary of the programme.

D.  Aims and Objectives

The aim of the programme is to provide students with critical thinking, integration of information and laboratory management skills needed to enable them meet the ever- increasing challenges of professional practice.

Objectives of the programme are to:

1. provide advanced education and training in specialized areas of pharmacology;
2. produce    highly-qualified    professionals    and    pharmacologists    that possess     proper understanding in drug discovery, mechanisms and safety.
3. carry out cutting-edge research and thus become an internationally recognized unit in the field of Pharmacology; and
4. be a reference point in the pharmacologic characterization and identification of new drug entities.

E.  Admission Requirements

For candidates to be eligible for the programme, they are required to have the following:

1. O‘level Credits in 5 subjects (not more than two (2) sittings) including Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physic and English Language;
2. A degree in Pharmacy, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine from recognized institutions; or
3. A minimum of Second Class (Lower Division) Honours in Pharmacology, Physiology and Biochemistry from recognized institutions.

Graduate students without Pharmacy or Pharmacology background would be required to take relevant remedial courses, sit and pass examination in the said courses, as may be directed by the Department.

F.          Duration of the programme

The programme shall run on full-time for a maximum of 18 calendar months and a maximum of 24 calendar months.

G.            Detailed Course Description

PCL 801  Advance Laboratory Courses and Instrumental Methods in Pharmacology 3 Credits

Use of modern pharmacological techniques, behavioural models, ECG/EEG machine recording, and their interpretation. Devices used to measure physiological and pharmacological parameters. Animal model. Isolated tissue preparations. Methods of studying neurotransmitters (biochemical, histochemical, auto radiographical). 135h (P); C

PCL 802 Chemical Mediators and Nervous System Pharmacology 3 Credits

Biosynthesis of neurotransmitters. Mechanism of action of autonomic and autacoid transmitters. Drugs acting on autonomic and central nervous system. Cellular response. Chemical mediators. Action of selective agonist and antagonists. 30h (T);, 45h (P); C

PCL 803  Toxicology 3 Credits

Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic. Management of acute poisoning. Radiation toxicology. Heavy metal poisoning. Environmental toxicology. Evaluation of drug toxicity. Principles of non-specific and antidotal treatment of toxicity. Pharmaceutical toxicology. Forensic approach in toxicology. Advanced physical and chemical techniques. Electron microscopy in toxicology. 45h (T); C

PCL 804 Research methodology and Biostatistics 3 Credits

Research philosophy, goals and objectives. Literature search. Research topics. Proposal and report writing. Experimental design. Pharmacologic screening techniques. Ethics in biomedical research. Care and use of laboratory animals. Data presentation. Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics, Students‘ t-test, analysis of variance, regression, non- parametric test. Computer application. 45h (T); C

PCL 805 Cardiovascular Pharmacology 2 Credits

The central and peripheral control of the cardiovascular system. The pathophysiology of hypertension and peripheral cardiovascular responses and disease. Drugs used in cardiovascular disorders. Vasoactive peptides and analogue. Current cardiovascular therapy. Non drug measures in cardiovascular disorders. 30h (T); C

PCL 806 Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics 2 Credits

Molecular biology and biotechnological tools, recombinant DNA technology. Molecular mechanisms of drug action, Drug-Receptor interactions, receptor isolation. Mechanism of assembly of membranes, lipid-protein interactions. Inherited variations in genes. Drug response in humans, microbes and tumours. 30h (T); C

PCL 807 Chemotherapy 2 Credits

Mechanism of action of antimicrobials. Chemotherapy of malaria, helminthiasis, schistosomiasis. Chemotherapy of fungal infection, HIV/AIDS and other viral infections. Chemotherapy of tuberculosis and leprosy. Drugs used in giardiasis, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis. Antineoplastic agents. Biochemical mechanisms of drug resistance. 30h (T); E

PCL 808 Endocrine Pharmacology 2 Credits

Thyroid and antithyroid drugs. Adrenocortical hormones. Estrogen and progestogens. Oral contraceptives and ovulatory drug. Androgens, anabolic steroids, mineralocorticoids. Insulin and oral hypoglycaemic drugs. Parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and Vitamin D. 30h (T); E

PCL 809 Immunopharmacology 2 Credits

Inflammation in cardiovascular system. Inflammation in the muscle and respiratory system. Pathological and therapeutic modulation of the immune system. Pharmacology of immuno stimulants and immunosuppressant. 30h (T); E

PCL 810 Ethnopharmacology 2 Credits

Ethnobotanical   and ethnomedical survey of plants. Traditional, alternative and complementary medicine. Drug discovery from medicinal plants.  Development and utilization of medicinal plants. pharmacological screening of medicinal plants. Bioassay guided study of medicinal plants. 30h (T); C

PCG 801 Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants 4 Credits

Methods and techniques in traditional medicine. Influence of culture and superstition in traditional medicine. Relationship between traditional and modern medicines and integration. Quality control of traditional medicinal preparations. Formulations, effectiveness and dangers of traditional medicine. Enumeration of Nigerian medicinal plants.   Integration or co-recognition of traditional and modern medicine. Role of regulatory agencies 45h (T); 45h (P); E

PCL 814  Graduate Seminar 2 Credits

Graduate students shall present two seminars after comprehensive literature review of approved topics. 90h (P); C

PCL 899 Dissertation 6 Credits

Suitable topic(s) will be selected with the approval of the Department and the Faculty Postgraduate Committee. Students are required to give three seminars and submit a written report on completion of the project. 270h (P); C

H. Graduation Requirements

Candidates will be required to carry out original research study and submit a dissertation on a topic approved by the Faculty and the Postgraduate School. To be awarded Master of Science Degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology, a candidate must have passed all core courses and a minimum of 30 credit units as follows:

Core                                                                                  20 Credits

Elective                                                                            10 Credits

Dissertation                                                                       6 Credits

Total:                                                                                 36 Credits

I. Summary

Core courses:

PCL 801 (3), PCL 802 (3), PCL 803 (3), PCL 804 (3), PCL 805 (2), PCL 806 (2), PCL 810

(2), PCL 814(2), PCL 899 (6)

Elective courses:

PCL 807 (2), PCL 808 (2), PCL 809 (2), PCG 801 (4)