PSEL 5003 - Introduction to Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics

3 Credit(s)

Implementation of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics is essential for optimizing pharmacotherapy based on individual genetic variations. Genomic biomarkers can have impact on drug exposure and clinical response variability, risk for adverse events, genotype-specific dosing, mechanisms of drug action, polymorphic drug target and disposition genes and trial design features. It is therefore critical for pharmacy students to develop an understanding and appreciation of this expanding field of science and medicine. This course will provide students with the necessary knowledge base in human genetics, human genomics and genotyping technologies to learn and interpret new advances in pharmacogenomics as they become available. Students will also learn about numerous recent drug-specific pharmacogenetic findings and the impact this information is having upon drug treatment approaches. The ethical, legal and social implications of the increased use of genetics in healthcare will also be discussed and debated. As this is a writing emphasis course, many of the assignments will foster the ability to effectively communicate the information learned in the course to a variety of audience types (patients, physicians, pharmacists, or other healthcare workers). (professional elective, writing emphasis; prerequisites: Principles of Molecular Biology/Genetics and Principles of Drug Action)

Prerequisite(s): BIOL4201 Molecular Biology/Genetics AND PHSC4101 Principles of Drug Action