Students
MEDI2004 – Pharmacology Fundamentals
2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor, Lecturer and Tutor
Marina Junqueira Santiago
Contact via email
Level 1, 75 Talavera Road
Consultation by appointment
Lecturer and Tutor
Preeti Manandhar
Contact via email
Lecturer and Tutor
Michael Udoh
Contact via email
Tutor
David Lovejoy
Contact via email
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
30cp at 1000 level or above including (BMOL1001 or CBMS104 or CBMS107 or CHEM1001)
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit will introduce the fundamental principles of drug action. You will study key concepts relating to drug disposition (pharmacokinetics) and how drugs act on the human body (pharmacodynamics). You will build your knowledge of chemical substances, from both outside and inside the body, and how they influence human health and disease. You will explore the mechanism of action and disposition of some commonly-used groups of drugs, as well as reasons for variability in individual drug responses. Learning activities will include interactive tutorials, online activities, and lectures.Topics covered in this unit will help you to integrate knowledge of molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry and physiology with the science of drugs. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Apply the principles of pharmacokinetics in describing drug entry, distribution, metabolism and removal from the body.
- ULO3: Use pharmacodynamic principles to relate the concept of agonist and antagonist to the quantification of a drug effect.
- ULO2: Identify major drug targets and mechanisms of drug action at the molecular level.
- ULO4: Describe the mechanism of action, adverse effects and drug interactions of some commonly used therapeutic agents.
- ULO5: Outline the principles involved in individual variability of drug response and interactions between drugs.
- ULO6: Effectively communicate your knowledge of pharmacology at an individual level and within a team environment.
- ULO7: Discuss key stages of drug development including the regulatory process in Australia
General Assessment Information
Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in Schedule 1 of the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, which is available at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment.
Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.
All final grades in the Bachelor of Clinical Science are determined by a grading committee and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.
Students will be awarded a final grade plus a Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG). The SNG is not necessarily a summation of the individual assessment components. The final grade and SNG that are awarded reflect the corresponding grade descriptor in the Grading Policy.
To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements including professionalism and achieve an SNG of 50 or better.
Student Professionalism
In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses. As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including tutorials, as well as clinical- and laboratory-based practical sessions.
Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of the 12 weeks. To be marked present all weekly listed activities must be completed to the best of student's abilities. Students that do not meet this requirement may be deemed unable to meet expectations regarding professionalism and may be referred for disciplinary action (which may include exclusion from assessments and unit failure).
Similarly, as part of developing professionalism, students are expected to submit all work by the due date. Applications for assessment task extensions must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via www.ask.mq.edu.au. For further details please refer to the Special Consideration Policy available at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration.
Late Submission
All assignments which are officially received after the due date, and where no extension has been granted, will incur a deduction of 5% for the first day, and 5% for each subsequent day until 10 days. After that point, no late submissions will be accepted. Weekends and public holidays are included. For example:
|
Due date |
Received |
Days late |
Deduction |
Raw mark |
Final mark |
|
Friday 14th |
Monday 17th |
3 |
15% |
75% |
60% |
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short quiz | 30% | No | Ongoing |
| Group Role Play | 20% | No | Weeks 8 and 9 |
| Final Exam | 50% | No | Exam period |
Short quiz
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 30%
A series of four short quizzes using a combination of questions to assess lecture and tutorial material.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply the principles of pharmacokinetics in describing drug entry, distribution, metabolism and removal from the body.
- Use pharmacodynamic principles to relate the concept of agonist and antagonist to the quantification of a drug effect.
- Identify major drug targets and mechanisms of drug action at the molecular level.
- Describe the mechanism of action, adverse effects and drug interactions of some commonly used therapeutic agents.
- Outline the principles involved in individual variability of drug response and interactions between drugs.
- Effectively communicate your knowledge of pharmacology at an individual level and within a team environment.
- Discuss key stages of drug development including the regulatory process in Australia
Group Role Play
Assessment Type 1: Simulation/role play
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weeks 8 and 9
Weighting: 20%
Role-play activity that applies the knowledge acquired in lectures and tutorials.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply the principles of pharmacokinetics in describing drug entry, distribution, metabolism and removal from the body.
- Use pharmacodynamic principles to relate the concept of agonist and antagonist to the quantification of a drug effect.
- Identify major drug targets and mechanisms of drug action at the molecular level.
- Describe the mechanism of action, adverse effects and drug interactions of some commonly used therapeutic agents.
- Outline the principles involved in individual variability of drug response and interactions between drugs.
- Effectively communicate your knowledge of pharmacology at an individual level and within a team environment.
Final Exam
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 50%
Formal written exam using a combination of question types assessing content delivered across the session. This task is completed under examination conditions during the University examination period.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply the principles of pharmacokinetics in describing drug entry, distribution, metabolism and removal from the body.
- Use pharmacodynamic principles to relate the concept of agonist and antagonist to the quantification of a drug effect.
- Identify major drug targets and mechanisms of drug action at the molecular level.
- Describe the mechanism of action, adverse effects and drug interactions of some commonly used therapeutic agents.
- Outline the principles involved in individual variability of drug response and interactions between drugs.
- Discuss key stages of drug development including the regulatory process in Australia
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Technology Used
Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device.
Recommended Readings
Unit readings are available via Leganto and the university library website.
The recommended textbook for this unit is:
- Rang and Dale's Pharmacology, 9th Edition. H. P. Rang, J. M. Ritter, R. J. Flower, and G. Henderson, (Elsevier 2020 )
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Changes from Previous Offering
Face-to-face activities have been moved online to ensure social distancing. Details available in the MEDI2004 iLearn space.