Module code: INC7009-B
To develop a critical evaluative understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying cellular toxicity.
Emphasis is placed on emerging concepts that reflect the changing nature of modern drug development. The module will address the mechanisms responsible for drug target toxicity and the evolution of new preclinical strategies to identify and predict such mechanisms.
The module is structured as a combination of lectures, tutorials, student-led seminars and laboratory investigation, plus student directed learning.
The student led seminars consist of the preparation and delivery of a drug profile presentation, where students indvidually review and present a selected drug profile with an emphasis on toxicity and in vitro screening methods as an alternative to in vivo toxicology. The laboratory investigation includes the preparation of a detailed experimental report covering methods, data collection and data analysis and interpretation.
The acquired knowledge will be assessed by coursework evaluation and examination at the end of the semester.
This module will cover the molecular mechanisms underlying the potential toxicities of new drugs under development. Topics to be covered include chemical carcinogenesis, genotoxic and non-genotoxic mechanisms, receptor mediated toxicity including biological mimicry, direct and indirect toxicity, regenerative hyperplasia as a toxicological mechanism, molecular mechanisms of cell death and hyperproliferation, sex and species differences. The module will also cover methodology for identifying molecular mechanisms including toxicogenomics (incl. toxicant fingerprinting), toxicoproteomics (incl. global proteomic change and signalling pathway specific changes) and the importance of extrapolation of risk data from rodent studies to humans. An important area in safety pharmacology is the development of alternative strategies to preclinical in vivo studies for identifying drug toxicity and or predicting drug safety. As such this module will address alternatives to animal testing, the advent of non-invasive imaging for toxicology evaluation and predictive computational models (incl. in silico toxicity prediction). Students will also extend their literature searching and written communication skills through the preparation of a report on molecular mechanisms of toxicity and an oral communication on alternatives to animal testing through presentation of a seminar.
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