Date/Time: 6 March | 9:30-12:30 a.m. – 2:30-7:00 p.m.
7 March | 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. & 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
8 March | 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m & 2:30 - 5:30 p.m.
9 March | 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Vacancies: 10 for students of the Doctoral School Health and Natural Resources, Agrifood and Environment
Course in Portuguese/ English/ Spanish
Local: Online
Registration open until 1st March here
Brief description
Strong efforts are made during drug Research and Development (R&D) to attain new effective and safe drugs. However, clinical failure rates for treatments that slow or stop disease progression are extremely high, attaining, for example, nearly 100% of major neurodegenerative disorders with numerous compounds failing in expensive and time-consuming clinical trials for lack of efficacy. Pharmacology is a core discipline that underpins research in drug discovery and development. Encompassing fundamental and clinical pharmacology, Pharmacology is the branch of biomedical science that studies the interactions between chemicals and living beings directed to prevent, ameliorate or cure the deleterious consequences of their diseases. Drug Development is an incredibly complex process that involves multiple rounds of assays and tests to assess drug pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety, from the screening of therapeutic candidates to the design of clinical trials in humans.
This course is based on a Research-inspired teaching provided by current practitioners in pharmacology laboratory research, pharmaceutical industry, and other areas of science including molecular biology, drug development, clinical trials and pharmacometrics.
Firstly, in silico, in vitro and in vivo quantitative and qualitative methods will be covered for identification of novel mechanisms of action and evaluation of compounds pharmacokinetics and efficacy. High throughput in silico/in vitro screening assays for pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characterization and the use of small-animal models in research pharmacology will be specified during this course, discussing successful protocols and projects in neurodegenerative, psychiatric and oncological diseases. Application of pre-clinical imaging techniques (e.g., Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nuclear Molecular Imaging & Positron Emission Tomography) in small rodent animals will be also exploited when used for the assessment of new chemical entities safety and efficacy.
Translational Research will be also explored based on practical examples of translating basic laboratory biomedical research into commercially drugs for diagnosing and treating patients. Students will be able to apply basic science knowledge and skills to experimental study design, data analysis, and modeling and simulation of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data to support drug development and personalized pharmacotherapy.
Through innovative coursework and independent research opportunities, the program instills the student with strategic reasoning to drive preclinical R&D productivity and develop innovative therapeutic drugs. Students are strongly encouraged to participate interactively during classes and will complete a final test on the exposed topics.
Course Coordinator: Ana Cristina Bairrada Fortuna (FFUC/CIBIT) [afortuna@ff.uc.pt]
Keynote speakers:
Fabio Sonvico – Biosketch
Miren Ettcheto – Biosketch
Helena Colom – Biosketch