Ph.D. Veterinary Toxicology

Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Toxicology

Ph.D. Veterinary Toxicology

1. List of Academic Staff

Name	Status and Qualification	Research Interests
S. F. Ambali	Professor & Head of Department. Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology. DVM, M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria)	Neuropharmacology, Environmental Toxicology, Ethnopharmacology
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	Senior Lecturer, DVM, M.V.Sc. (Maiduguri); Ph.D. (UPM, Serdang)	Nanopharmacology, Nanotoxicology
A. Aremu	Lecturer I, DVM (UDU, 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 Ph.D. programme in Veterinary Toxicology is designed to impact effective professional and academic skills for qualified persons desiring to further their careers as academics, researchers, or very knowledgeable and proficient professionals. The programme is almost exclusively research-based, although there are few courses available to the students. In addition, the students during the period of study will attend a number of specialist courses on current research topics mounted by the Department. Ph.D. research will lead to an assessed outcome of a dissertation.

C. Philosophy

The philosophy of the programme is the development of high-level and globally competitive manpower that will advance careers in academics and research, and the provision of the highest degree of specialisation in veterinary toxicology in the context of expanding knowledge globally and developing critical, analytical and innovative minds to advance the course of teaching, research and professional services to solve real-life problems.

D. Aim and Objectives

The Ph.D. programme is aimed at developing high-calibre manpower to solve toxicological problems affecting animals and promote environmental health and environmental safety.

The objectives are to:

1. Equip students with research skills and competencies to enable them to function effectively and efficiently as teachers, researchers and health care professionals to solve myriads of problems confronting society;
2. Provide efficient training for those whose future careers lie in teaching and research at the tertiary level and in research and development in the public and private sectors;
3. Train professionals who are capable of applying scientific knowledge and principles to solve myriads of problems confronting the ecosystem, and
4. Produce scientists who are academically, intellectually and morally conscious, and socially responsible in line with the globally accepted norms and ethics.

E. Admission Requirements

1. ‗O‘ level Credits passes or its equivalents in five subjects including Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English language.
2. On completion of the M.Sc. programme, candidates who obtained a weighted score of 60% or CGPA of 4.0 on a scale of 5.0 and above are eligible to proceed to Ph.D. pogramme in Veterinary Toxicology.
3. Following conversion from M.Phil. programme, candidates are eligible to proceed to the Ph.D. programme in Veterinary Toxicology.

F. Duration of the Programme

1. The Full-time programme shall run for a minimum of 36 calendar months and a maximum of 60 calendar months.
2. The Part-time programme shall run for a minimum of 48 calendar months and a maximum of 72 calendar months.

G. Detailed Course Description

VTC 901 Forensic and Analytical Toxicology 3 Credits

History of forensic toxicology. The substance of abuse in veterinary medicine. Role of forensic toxicologist in medical examination, collection, handling, preservation, transportation and storage of ante-mortem and post-mortem samples in clinical and forensic toxicology. Investigative tools in forensic toxicology. Analytical toxicology: colourimetric, fluometric, spectrophotometric and chromatographic tests, mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoretic technique,   electrochemical   method, immuno-enzymology and enzymes-based technique, molecular diagnostic technique in diagnostic toxicology. Interpretation of analytical results. Veterinary regulations and ethics. Writing medico-legal report. Serving as experts and appearing in court. 30h (T); 45h(P); C

VTC 902 Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment 2 Credits

Aims of environmental impact assessment (EIA). Basic and operating principles of EIA. Mechanisms to achieve principles of EIA. EIA legal, policy and institutional framework. institutional, national and international legislative regimes for EIA. Impact assessment and monitoring. EIA litigations, conventions and articles. Preparation of environmental impact statement or report. EIA decision-making tools. Impact and environmental management. Socio- economic impact assessment. Health impact assessment. 30h (T); C

VTC903 Principle of Risk Assessment and Regulatory Toxicology 1 Credit

Toxicological hazard and exposure assessment risk. Risk characterisation, risk perception, communication and risk-benefit analysis. Toxicological information for use in predictive modelling method of computational risk assessment in toxicology. Toxicity and risk of chemical mixture. The use of expert system for toxicology risk prediction. Regression and safety assessment in the regulation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. projection-based approaches in predictive radioactive substances. Regulatory issues in toxicology. Regulatory bodies and roles. 15h (T); C

VTC 904 Nanotoxicology 2 Credits

Principles and reviews of nanotoxicology. Use of nanotechnology in diagnostics, pharmacology and therapeutics. Synthesis and physicochemical characteristics of engineered nanomaterials. Unique properties of engineered nanomaterials versus biological interaction. Properties of engineered nanomaterials vs transportation, reactivity, uptake and toxicity in natural environments and in the body. Target organ toxicity of nanoparticles, molecular toxicology of nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity of nanoparticles. Approaches to the safety assessment of nanoparticles. 30h (T); C

VTC 906 Seminar I 1 Credit

Students shall be required to present an oral proposal seminar in the Faculty within six (6) months of registration. This will be graded by a panel of academic staff to be appointed by the Postgraduate Coordinator. 45h (P); C

VTC 907 Seminar II 1 Credit

Each student is required to present the first oral seminar detailing the progress of his/her research to the Faculty. This will be graded by a panel of academic staff to be constituted by the Faculty Postgraduate Coordinator. 45h (P); C

VTC 908 Seminar III 1 Credit

Each student is required to present the second oral seminar detailing the result of his/her research work to the Faculty. This will be graded by a panel of academic staff to be constituted by the Faculty Postgraduate Coordinator. 45h (P); C

VTC 999 Thesis 24 Credits

Each student would carry out a high calibre original investigation addressing contemporary issues in veterinary toxicology under the supervision of an approved supervisor or supervisory committee and defend before a Panel of Examiners, including an External Examiner in a thesis form. 1080h (P); C

• Graduation Requirements

Each candidate shall be required to have taken and passed all core courses with a minimum score of 60%. A minimum of 34 credits is required for graduation, including a research thesis. However, candidates found deficient in some courses required for their research work and general knowledge would have courses prescribed for him/her from M.Sc. Veterinary Toxicology programme by the supervisor(s). A candidate must pass a minimum of 35 credits made up of the following to be awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Toxicology:

Core 35 Credits

Total 35Credits

I. Summary

Core Courses

VTC 901 (3), VTC 902 (2), VTC 903 (1), VTC 904 (2), VTC 906 (1), VTC 907 (1), VTC 908(1), VTC 999 (24)