Postgraduate School
Master of Science in Veterinary Pharmacology
M.Sc. Veterinary Pharmacology
| Name | Status and Qualification | Research Interests |
| S. F. Ambali | Professor & Head of Department. DVM, M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria) | Neuropharmacology, Environmental Toxicology, |
| K. T. Biobaku | Professor, DVM (UDU, Sokoto); P.DE. (ABU, Zaria); M.Sc., Ph.D. (UDU, Sokoto); Cert.Mol.Biol. (FUNAAB, Abeokuta); | Ethnopharmacology, Phytotoxicology, Stress pharmacology |
| B. S. Okediran | Professor, B.Sc. (OAU, Ile-Ife); DVM (Ibadan); M.Sc., Ph.D. (UNAAB, Abeokuta) | Biochemical Toxicology, Veterinary Biochemistry |
| Oyebisi M. Azeez | Professor, DVM (Ibadan); M.Sc., Ph.D. (Lagos); FCVSN (Abuja) | Cardiovascular, Renal, Environmental, Molecular and stress Physiology |
| Z. Jaji | Reader, DVM, M.V.Sc. (Maiduguri); Ph.D. (UPM, Serdang) | Nanopharmacology, Nanotoxicology |
| A. Aremu | Lecturer I, DVM (UDUS, Sokoto); M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ibadan) | Ethnopharmacology, Metabolic disease, Toxicology |
| *A. A. Njan | Professor, B.Sc. (Calabar); M.Sc. (NAU, Awka); Ph.D. (MUST, Mbarara); PGD (California) | Ethnopharmacology, Toxicology |
* Lecturer from another Department.
B. Introduction
The Master of Veterinary Pharmacology programme is designed to improve the depth of knowledge and skills in Veterinary therapeutics for holders of DVM degree in the practice of the Veterinary profession and research.
C. Philosophy
The philosophy of the Programme is the development of knowledge-based manpower that will drive the advancement of Veterinary Pharmacology that will enable students to cope intellectually with the contemporary challenges in the field.
D. Aim and Objectives
The M.Sc. degree in Veterinary Pharmacology programme aims at equipping the student with the requisite advanced knowledge of Veterinary Pharmacology to improve the health of animals and man. The objectives are to:
E. Admission Requirements
F. Duration of the Programme
G. Detailed Course Description
VTC 813 Biomedical Research Methodology and Communication 2 Credits
History and legal basis of research ethics. Ethical requirements. Ethical review procedure. Ethical issues and requirements: data protection, privacy, informed consent, research on animals and humans, dual use. Identifying research fields. Identifying funding resources. Developing a grant proposal: basic components of a grant proposal, budget and budgeting, research planning and design. Writing research protocol. Submitting a research proposal. Implementing the research project. Describing and analysing research results. Interpreting research results. Report writing. Management control in biomedical research. Challenges and opportunities in collaborative scientific research. Research communication: communicating to scientists, funding agencies, health professionals, policymakers, patients/clients, the community, and public media. Writing scientific papers. Publishing scientific papers. Making scientific presentations. 30h (T); C
VPH 815 Biostatistics 2 Credits
Statistics. Study designs. Scales of measurement. Quality of measurement, statistical variable/data. Qualitative and quantitative data sources. Sampling and sample size determination. Data organization: Statistics Charts, Tables, Graphs Frequency Tables, Frequency distribution, Histogram, Stem and leaf plot, box plot. Summary indices: Mean, Median, Modes Variance, Standard Deviation. Probability distributions: Normal, Binomial, Poisson distribution, Descriptive statistics, frequency table, tables for qualitative and quantitative data, diagrams, types of diagrams. Data summarization: summary indices, measures of central tendency and dispersion. Test of statistical hypothesis. Confidence intervals. Parametric and non-parametric tests. Z-test for proportions. Chi-square test. Fischer‘s exact test and T-test. Analysis of variance. Regression and correlation. Spearman rank and Kendal correlation. 15h (T); 45h (P); C
VPH 817 Bioinformatics 2 Credits
Bioinformatics: Introduction, principles and application in Veterinary Medicine. Software and data manipulation. GenBank. Nucleic acid amplification and sequencing. Use of Gene Sequences Analysis software (BioEdit®, MEGA, CLC). Phylogenetic tree construction and analysis. 15h (T); 45h (P); C
VPC 801 Advanced Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics 3 Credits
Review of cells and cell membranes. Transport of drugs across membranes. Factors affecting drug movement in the body. Principles of pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetics modelling. Application of pharmacokinetics in different conditions and status of patients. Pharmacogenetics. Drugs and dosage Individualisation. Biopharmaceutical considerations in drug design. Nanopharmacology. Bioavailability, bioequivalence and biowaiver. Biopharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutical considerations. 30h (T); 45h (P); C
VTC 801 Toxicological Principles and Target Organ Toxicity 1 Credit
Toxicological concepts. Toxicokinetics. Toxicodynamics and mechanistic toxicology. Toxicogenetics principles. Dose response-relationship. Safety testing. Toxic response to foreign compounds. Nature and outcome of target organ toxicity. 15h(T);C
VPC 802 Biochemical Pharmacology 2 Credits
Principles of drug actions. Mechanism of action of drugs. Physical, chemical and biological interactions of drugs. Classification of receptors cellular receptors. Acceptor and non-signal transduction mechanisms. Effector and signal-transduction mechanisms. Ligands-gated ion channels: G protein coupled receptors, tyrosine-kinase and other kinases, transcription factors and their pharmacologic actions, signalling and clinical pharmacological applications. Signalling molecules and cell surface receptors. Receptor purification. Intracellular signal-transduction and drugs. Second messengers. Receptors and drugs, Regulation of signal transduction and biochemical mechanisms involved. Agonist, antagonist, mixed agonist and antagonist: clinical implication and applications. 30h (T); C
VPC 804 Advanced Veterinary Neuropharmacology 2 Credits
A brief review of the physiology of peripheral and central nervous systems. Pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system and neuromuscular junction. Theories of anaesthesia: general and local anaesthetic agents. Pharmacology of central nervous system stimulants, hypnotics, sedatives and tranquillizers. Introduction to advance receptor science. Reversing effect of agents acting on the CNS. Drugs that modify behaviours in small animals and pets. Use of central nervous system agents in wildlife. 15h (T); 45h (P); C
VPC 805 Advanced Systemic Pharmacology 3 Credits
Pharmacology of drugs affecting the endocrine, reproductive, renal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and immune systems. 30h (T);, 45h (P); C
VPC 807 Advanced Veterinary Chemotherapy 2 Credits
Principles of chemotherapy. Drug reaction, interaction and toxicology. Molecular mechanisms of drug resistance. Chemotherapeutic agents: antiprotozoans, anthelmintics, antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and anti-neoplastics. Disinfectants and antiseptics. Feed additives and growth promoters. withdrawal period in food animals. Contraindicated drugs in food animals. 15h (T); 45h (P); C
VPC 808 Ethnoveterinary Pharmacology 1 Credit
Folk remedies and pharmacology. Review of principles of traditional practices in the treatment of animal diseases. Phytochemical and medicinal constituents in plants. Collection, extraction and testing of plant extracts. Review of research trends in ethnoveterinary pharmacology. Pharmacological properties of some important plants in the tropics. Ethno-pharmacological properties of animal products. Uses of ethnoveterinary based drugs and prospects in organic based livestock production. 15h (T); C
VPC 810 Advanced Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology 3 Credits
Current trends and innovation in clinical pharmacology. Principle of pharmacy, compounding and prescription writing. Drug compliance, interactions and incompatibility. Therapeutic strategies and choice of drugs. Monitoring of therapeutic responses. Drug legislations in Nigeria. Drug development and clinical trials. introduction to veterinary pharmacovigilance. 30h (T); 45h (P); C
VPC 812 Experimental Techniques in Veterinary Pharmacology 2 Credits Principles and methods used in pharmacological research. Experimental techniques in pharmacology/toxicology: chromatography, electrophoresis, spectrometry, tissue culture, western blot and PCR techniques. Models for induction of pain, diabetes, ulcer, thrombocytopenia, epilepsy, osteoporosis, anaemia, cytotoxicity, and brain damage. Models of infections in animals: protozoan, helminth, bacteria, fungi and viruses. 15h (T); 45h (P); C
VPC 813 Seminar I 1 Credit
Oral presentation of proposal and literature survey to be assessed by a panel of examiners. 45h (P); C
VPC 814 Seminar II 1 Credit
Oral presentation of research findings to be assessed by a panel of examiners during a properly constituted seminar. 45h (P); C
VPC 899 Dissertation 6 Credits
The original investigation into an approved problem in veterinary pharmacology under the supervision of an approved academic supervisor(s). 270h (P); C
A candidate must pass a minimum of 35 Credits made up of the following to be awarded the Master of Science (Veterinary Pharmacology) degree:
Core 35 Credits
Total 35 Credits
I. Summary
Core Courses: VTC 813 (2), VPH 815 (2), VPH 817 (2), VPB 801 (2),VPC 801(3), VTC 801
(1), VPC 802(2), VPC 804(2), VPC 805(3), VPC 807(2), VPC 808 (1), VPC 810(3), VPC
812(2), VPC 813 (1), 814(1), VPC 899(6)
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