UnitLevel 3Undergraduate

BPS3122 Disease-focused pharmacology – CNS

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

BPS3122 Disease-focused pharmacology – CNS is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, offered in 2020 in Semester 1 at Parkville. It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2020
Semester 1
Parkville

The 2027 handbook has no page for BPS3122. This is its 2020 entry, the latest one.

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Overview

This unit investigates in detail disorders involving the nervous system and provides the relationship between the pathophysiology of these diseases and the rational design and use of drugs. Students will review the structure and function of the nervous system and important aspects of neurotransmission and cell signalling, and will then consider in detail exemplar disorders involving the nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, depression, pain, and multiple sclerosis, and disorders affecting blood-brain barrier function. The aspects of these disease states which are amenable to pharmacotherapy will be discussed in detail and students will perform a number of tasks which will help with the development of critical thinking skills.

Offerings in 2020

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterParkvilleOn campus
First semester (Fully flex)ParkvilleFlexible

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Describe the normal physiology of the central nervous system.

  2. 2

    For each disease or disorder, be able to explain the pathogenesis and the signs and symptoms of the disease, and relate these to the pathophysiology.

  3. 3

    Describe the diagnosis, risk factors/epidemiology and the burden of the disease on society.

  4. 4

    Explain the mechanism of action of current treatment options, explain their rationale of use, advantages and disadvantages, side effects and other limitations.

  5. 5

    Build a learning portfolio that:

    • Includes a discussion of relevant biological models, preclinical and clinical issues, and a proposed investigation into a novel therapeutic option
    • Proposes new targets for therapeutic interventions or identifies areas of the pathophysiology yet to be exploited
    • Describes and evaluates relevant biological disease models
    • Investigates current research efforts, both preclinical and clinical, and identifies how novel therapeutic interventions may be assessed for efficacy within current models or proposes new methods of investigation
    • Includes a reflective account of the research topic and approach taken to the task
    • Is written and presented effectively, in accordance with conventions in the discipline.

Workload and teaching

Contact hours for on-campus students:

  • Twelve 2-hour online modules (discovery)
  • Twelve 2-hour workshops
  • Twenty-four hours of self-directed study

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Dr Nilushi Karunaratne
Chief Examiners
Dr Nilushi Karunaratne

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for BPS3122?

BPS3122 has no prerequisites.

When is BPS3122 offered?

In 2020, BPS3122 runs in Semester 1 at Parkville.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
3
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 2
Study abroad
Not available
Handbook years
2020