Pharmacology Courses
Pharmacology Graduate Course Requirements
NOTE: A minimum grade of 2.7 is required for each course that is counted toward a graduate degree.
1. Enrollment in Pharmacology 510 (Drug Discovery and Emerging Therapeutics), 511 (Autonomic/Cardiovascular Pharmacology), 512 (Neuropharmacology), and 513 (Endocrine Pharmacology & Chemotherapeutics).
2. Enrollment in Pharmacology 507 (Pharmacology Seminar Series) throughout graduate school. Enrollment in Pharmacology 514 (Pharmacology Journal Club) in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years.
3. Enrollment in Pharmacology 519 (lab rotations) during Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters of the first year. Students entering into the program with a M.S. degree or equivalent may petition to be allowed to enroll in only one or two quarters of Pharmacology 519 before selecting a lab.
4. Four 2-3 credit Advanced Courses in Pharmacology (at 500 level) in addition to the 510-513 series.
5. Nine graded elective course credits outside of pharmacology (non-seminar) in physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, cell biology or other areas relevant to the student's thesis proposal. The courses must be at the approved 500 level.
Advanced Courses in Pharmacology
Odd Years
Autumn PHCOL 529 Ion Channel Pharmacology (2) Catterall/Tempel
Winter PHCOL 537 Molecular Neurobiology of the Cell Membrane (2) Bajjalieh/Nathanson
Spring PHCOL 531 Genetic Analysis of Signaling Systems (3) McKnight/Moon
Even Years
Autumn PHCOL 534 Molecular Basis of Drug Addiction (2) Chavkin/Stella/Phillips/Neumaier
Autumn PHCOL 567 Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis (2) Xia
Winter PHCOL 530 Neuronal Signaling Pathways (2) Beavo/Storm/Xia/Hague
Spring PHCOL 535 Transcriptional Control in Human Disease (3) Wang/Bomsztyk
Elective Courses
Below are some classes that can be used to fulfill the nine-credits of graded, graduate level course requirement. Please note that when these courses are offered may vary from year to year.
Credits: 1.5 each
CONJ 524 Structural Basis of Signal Transduction
CONJ 531 Signaling Mechanisms of Excitable Cells
CONJ 532 Signal Transduction from Cell Membrane to Nucleus
CONJ 534 Selected Problems in Nervous System Development
CONJ 535 RNA Structure and Biological Function
CONJ 536 Experimental Design in Cell Biology
CONJ 537 Mechanism of Transcriptional Regulation
CONJ 539 Biological Basis of Neoplasia
CONJ 541 Molecular Basis of Cellular Processes
CONJ 542 Development
CONJ 544 Protein Structure, Modification and Regulation
CONJ 546 Survey of Technologies for Molecular Biology
CONJ 556 Drug Addiction: Mechanisms, Prevention, and Treatment
BIOC 530 Advanced Biochemistry (3 credits)
PBIO 509 Neuroendocrinology (3 credits)
NEUBEH501 Introduction to Neurobiology (3 credits)
NEUBEH502 Introduction to Neurobiology (4 credits)
NEUBEH503 Cognitive and Integrative Neurobiology (4 credits)
Pharmacology Course Offerings
PHCOL 401 General Pharmacology I (2-4) Wang
Pharmacy students and other undergraduates. Principles governing drug-receptor
interactions and dose effect relationship. Drug toxicity, tolerance, allergy,
and drug-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Pharmacology of drugs
affecting endocrine systems. Recommend: background in biology, biochemistry,
and introductory physiology. Offered: A.
PHCOL 402 General Pharmacology II (3,4) Storm
General pharmacology of drugs affecting the autonomic and central
nervous systems. For pharmacy students and other undergraduates. Prerequisite:
401 or permission of instructor. Offered: W.
PHCOL 434, 435
General Pharmacology (2,2) Watson/Grubbs
Lectures concerning the action of drugs on physiological and pathological
processes with special emphasis on agents of special importance in
the practice of dentistry. For dental students. Offered: A, W.
PHCOL 499 Undergraduate Research (*) Faculty
Participation in departmental research projects. Prerequisite: permission
of instructor. Offered: AWSpS.
PHCOL 507 Pharmacology Seminar (1) Faculty
Presentation of comprehensive reports on recent medical and scientific
literature in fields of current importance. Research progress reports
and reports on results of completed research. Prerequisite: permission
of instructor. Offered: AWSp.
PHCOL 510 Drug Discovery
and Emerging Therapeutics (2) Zheng
This course focuses on the general principles and current approaches involved
in modern drug discovery and development, with an emphasis on basic concepts
in drug actions, drug delivery, and drug metabolism. There is a further
emphasis on identifying novel techniques in drug discovery and discussing
emerging therapeutics that are not based on standard drug design. Selected
drugs will be used to examine the pathway from discovery through development
for clinical use. Prerequisite: CONJ 532 or permission of instructor. Offered: W.
PHCOL 511 Autonomic/Cardiovascular Pharmacology (2) Nathanson
Consideration of the pharmacology of the cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems.
Emphasis will be on the mechanisms of neurotransmitter, hormone,
and drug action at autonomic synapses and the molecular basis for physiology
and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system. The format will be lecture,
group discussion, and analysis of recent research. For graduate students only.
Prerequisite: Organic chemistry, biochemistry, and introductory anatomy and physiology.
Second five weeks of the quarter. Offered: W.
PHCOL
512 Neuropharmacology (2) Bajjalieh
Consideration of the neurobiological basis of drug action on the central nervous system,
including mechanism of action and therapeutic use in psychiatric disorders,
neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation; control of neuronal excitability and pain;
and drug abuse and addiction. The format will be lecture, group discussion,
and analysis of recent research. For graduate students only.
Prerequisite: Organic chemistry, biochemistry, and introductory anatomy and physiology.
First five weeks of the quarter. Offered: Sp.
PHCOL 513 Endocrine Pharmacology & Chemotherapeutics (2) McKnight
Consideration of the pharmacology of endocrine systems including the
hypothalamic/pituitary regulatory peptides, glycoprotein hormones and growth factors,
peptide hormones, and steroid hormones. Basic principles of chemotherapy of endocrine
and other cancers, as well as viral and microbial diseases. The format will be lecture,
group discussion, and analysis of recent research. For graduate students only.
Prerequisite: Organic chemistry, biochemistry, and introductory anatomy and physiology.
Second five weeks of the quarter. Offered: Sp.
PHCOL 514 Current Topics in Pharmacology (1) McKnight
Current research related to the mechanisms of drug action presented
in a seminar format. Presentations include relevant background material
as well as detailed experimental results taken from current research
articles. Open to medical and graduate students. Prerequisite: permission
of instructor. Offered: AWSp.
PHCOL 515 General Pharmacology Laboratory (*) Faculty
Selected laboratory experiments in pharmacology for demonstration
of basic principles of drug actions. Autonomic nervous system, central
nervous system, and cardiovascular drugs are employed in both intact
and isolated mammalian systems. For professional and graduate students
who wish to do independent research with a particular faculty member.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Offered: AWSpS.
PHCOL 519 Introduction to Laboratory Research in Pharmacology (4)
Storm
On a rotation basis, students carry out individual research projects
in the laboratories of different faculty members. At the end of each
quarter, students make formal presentations of their work. For first
year graduate students in pharmacology. Offered: AWSpS.
PHCOL 529 Ion Channel Pharmacology (2) Catterall/Tempel
Recent work has shown that ion channels are often the targets of mutations
which cause disease in humans and mice. Inherited diseases are known
which affect voltage-gated sodium, calcium, potassium, and chloride
channels, epithelial sodium channels, ATP-gated potassium channels,
glycine receptors, and CFTR. We will use the inherited diseases and
the naturally occurring mutations in these channel proteins as starting
points to consider the structure, function, physiology, genetics,
and pharmacology of these ion channels. The class will be in seminar
format, with most presentations given by student participants. Prerequisites:
Conjoint 501, Molecular Basis for Cell Function, is a prerequisite
for this course, and students are requested to review the lectures
by Dr. Zagotta in that course before the first class meeting. Offered:
odd years; A.
PHCOL 530 Neuronal Signaling Pathways (2) Beavo/Storm/Xia/Hague
Advanced consideration of signal transduction pathways that regulate
functions of the nervous system. Physiological processes considered include
memory formation, olfaction, vision, taste, neurogenesis, synaptic
plasticity and apoptosis. Uconj 532 or permission of instructor. Offered: even years;
W.
PHCOL 531 Genetic Analysis of Signaling Systems (3) McKnight/Moon
Current topics involving signal transduction will be discussed with
an emphasis on genetic analysis of multicellular systems and creative
experimental design. Prerequisites: CONJ 501, 502, 503 or permission
of instructor. Offered: odd years; Sp.
CONJ 532 Signal Transduction from the Cell Membrane to the Nucleus
(1.5) Beavo/McKnight/Moon/Storm
Intracellular signaling pathways leading from cell membrane receptors
to nucleus. Pathways activated by seven transmembrane receptors and
G-proteins, insulin/PI3 kinase, nitric oxide and WNTs and mechanisms
of signal termination. Cytokine/Jak/Stat signaling and role of subcellular
localization in signal transduction. Prerequisite: BIOC 442 or equivalent,
or permission of instructor. Offered: A.
PHCOL 533 Molecular Toxicology (2) Gallagher
Advanced discussion of molecular mechanisms whereby chemical and pharmacological
agents produce their toxic effects on cells and tissues. Prerequisites:
permission of instructor. Offered jointly with ENVH 533. Offered:
odd years; W.
PHCOL 534 Molecular Basis of Drug Addiction (2) Chavkin/Stella/Phillips
Advanced consideration of the effects of drugs on neurotransmission
and higher order neural systems including current topics in receptor
pharmacology, hormonal modulation of neuro signaling, effects of disease
on neural circuits, regulation of synaptic plasticity, and mechanisms
underlying neurodegeneration. Prerequisites: PHCOL 512 or permission
of instructor. Offered: even years; A.
PHCOL 535 Transcriptional Control in Human Disease (2)
Wang/Bomsztyk
Advanced consideration and discussion of the mechanisms regulating
transcription/gene expression and of aberrant transcription factors
which disrupt this process found in cancer and other human diseases.
Prerequisite: PHCOL 512, or permission of instructor. Offered: even
years; Sp.
PHCOL 537 Molecular Neurobiology of the Cell Membrane
(2) Bajjalieh/Nathanson
Advanced consideration of the structure
and function of cell membranes, membrane trafficking, exocytosis,
endocytosis, membrane proteins, and lipid-mediated signal transduction.
Processes important to nervous system functioning will be emphasized.
Prerequisites: CONJ 501, 502, 503 or permission of instructor.
Offered: odd years; W.
PHCOL 550 An Overview of Faculty Research (1) Wang
Reviews research topics currently being studied in pharmacology. Student
reads articles published on each topic. Offered on C/NC Basis only.
Prerequisite: first-year student standing in pharmacology. Offered: A.
CONJ 556 Drug Addiction: Mechanisms, Prevention, and Treatment (2) Chavkin
Presents the key advances, insights, methods, and challenges for our understanding of
drug addiction from psychological, pharmacological, psychiatric, community prevention,
legal, and neurodevelopmental perspectives. Enhances familiarity with the
multidisciplinary approaches required to understand addiction as a disease. Offered: A.
PHCOL 567 Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis (3) Xia
Lectures / presentations of biochemical and molecular basis of carcinogenesis
induced by environmental agents, including approaches to identification
of carcinogens. Role of cell proliferation and cell death (apoptosis)
in cancer formation and cancer treatment. Molecular mechanisms that
regulate proliferation and apoptosis. Prerequisite: ENV H 516, ENV
H 405, or permission of instructor. Offered: Jointly with ENV H 567.
Offered: even years; A.
PHCOL 600 Independent Study or Research (*) AWSpS Faculty
PHCOL 697P Pharmacology Special Elective (*) Faculty
By specific arrangement, for qualified students, special clerkship,
externship or research opportunities can at times be made available
at institutions other than the University of Washington. The faculty
can advise students of possible opportunities. Students electing this
course should obtain from the Dean's office a "Special Assignment"
form at least one month before preregistration. Offered: AWSpS.
PHCOL 700 Master's Thesis (*) AWSpS Faculty
PHCOL 800 Doctoral Dissertation (*) AWSpS Faculty
Biotech Externship
Statistics suggest that years after completion of the Ph.D. degree, approximately half of the degree recipients will be employed in academia and half will be employed in companies. While the students in academic doctoral programs receive considerable training to prepare them for both career tracks, students develop first-hand knowledge primarily of academic opportunities. To provide an opportunity for students to obtain working experience in a biotechnology company, students can petition to enroll in a university course where students spend time working at a local biotechnology company.
Participating companies include:
Amgen, Chiron, Corixa, ICOS, Zymogenetics
For more information, contact Dr. Randall Moon, Professor, Pharmacology, Investigator, HHMI, rtmoon@u.washington.edu
