Integrated Physiology and Pharmacology, 25 credits

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree worth at least 180 credits in biomedicine, biotechnology, cellular and molecular biology, pharmaceutics, health care, medicine, or the equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary school course English 6/English B.

The aim of the course is for the student to gain an integrated understanding of the subjects physiology and pharmacology and an overall understanding of how the body functions, what happens in the body during disease and how the body is influenced by different factors including pharmacologically active substances. Through knowledge in the main field, the aim is furthermore that the student should learn practical aspects and understand how physiological and pharmacological principles can be applied and integrate these subjects as well as understand translational pre-clinical and/or clinical research.

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• Explain physiological principles and how the organ systems of the healthy human body functions and interacts during normal conditions
• Explain principles in pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics, pharmacodynamics and receptor pharmacology
• Integrate knowledge in physiology and pharmacology
• Describe the complexity in organ system-related diseases and pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment of these diseases
• Account for how pharmacological methods and lifestyle changes can be used for prevention and treatment of diseases
• Account for drug development at a general level
• Account for the use of bioinformatics and health informatics in physiology and pharmacology
• Search for and evaluate relevant research articles in translational physiology and pharmacology
• Critically review and evaluate current research in translational physiology and pharmacology

The course includes integrated physiology and pharmacology at the molecular, cellular and integrative level, as well as pharmacological principles. All teaching is based on the functions of the organs during 1. normal/healthy conditions, 2. abnormal conditions/diseases, and 3. pharmacological/non-pharmacological treatment to create an integrated understanding of the subject areas.

The global health perspective and integration of prevention, diagnostics, pharmacological methods and lifestyle changes will be discussed during the course.

The course is divided in the following parts:

This part contains:

• Physiology and pharmacology at the molecular, cellular and integrative level
• Orientating anatomy and histology
• Pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics, pharmacodynamics and receptor pharmacology

This part contains: 

• Physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology in: heart, circulation, respiration, kidney and fluid balance, the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, endocrinology and reproduction, and the musculoskeletal system
• Applied Physiology
• Cancer and cancer treatment

This part contains: 

• Neurophysiology, neuropathology and neuropharmacology
• The immune system, inflammation and anti-inflammatory treatment
• Infectious Diseases; principles, prevention and treatment

This part contains: 

• General principles of drug development
• Bioinformatics and health informatics in a physiological and pharmacological context
• Integration of prevention, pharmacological methods and life style changes
• Integration of how to bring an experimental hypothesis to drug development and treatment

Orientating lectures, team-based learning (TBL), workshops, seminars, practical labs and journal clubs.

Part 1: Introduction to physiology and pharmacology, 6.0 credits.
Examinations:
Written examination (exam). Graded Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction.
Written assignment Graded Fail/Pass.
Oral presentation of the assignment. Graded Fail/Pass.

Part 2: Respiration, circulation, endocrinology, digestion, kidney function and movement, 12.0 credits.
Examinations:
Written assignments Graded Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction.
Oral presentation of assignments. Graded Fail/Pass.

Part 3: The nervous system and the immune system, 4.5 credits
Examinations:
Written assignment Graded Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction.
Oral presentation of assignment. Graded Fail/Pass.

Part 4: From hypothesis to treatment, 2.5 credits
Examinations:
Written assignment Graded Fail/Pass.
Oral presentation of assignment. Graded Fail/Pass.

Written assignments should be submitted before the end of the course according to the specification in the schedule. To pass the course (the grade Pass or higher), at least passed on all components of the course is required. To pass the course with distinction, the grade Pass with distinction on the parts "Respiration, circulation, endocrinology, digestion, kidney function and movement" and "the Nervous system and the immune system" is required.

Compulsory participation
Participation in Team-based learning and journal clubs is compulsory. The examiner assesses if, and how, absence from compulsory course elements can be made up for. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the examiner. Absence from a compulsory course element could mean that the student can not retake the element until the next time the course is offered.

Limitation of number of tests or practical training sessions
The students that have not passed after regular examination session have the right to participate at further five examination sessions. If the student has carried out six failed examinations/tests, no additional examination or new course admission is approved.

Each occasion the student participates in the same test counts as an examination. Submission of a blank exam paper is regarded as an examination. In case a student is registered for an examination but does not attend, this is not regarded as an examination.

In the event of special circumstances, or if a student with a disability is in need of certain adjustments, the examiner may decide to depart from the syllabus' regulations on examination form, number of examination opportunities, possibility of completion or exemption from compulsory educational elements, etc. Content and intended learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities must not be altered, removed or lowered.

The course is given in English, and the examinations are in English.

A course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Higher Education.

Oral evaluation, course council, will take place during the course.