Drexel University College of Medicine

Welcome to the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology’s Graduate Program. The Department of Pharmacology and Physiology offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.  The program requires independent research conducted under the direction of departmental faculty members who are engaged in highly active research programs that incorporate molecular, cellular and behavioral approaches to address a wide range of research interests.  We are fortunate in having a department which emphasizes both pharmacology and physiology and believe that the scientific foundations, current research and future directions of pharmacology and physiology depend heavily on an appreciation and integration of these two disciplines.  Pharmacology  emphasizes the study of drug action in biological systems with a view towards understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms, developing therapeutics, and using drugs to  probe and elucidate physiological responses.  Physiology focuses on the regulation, modulation and functioning of organ systems.  Understanding the physiology of organ systems requires a detailed knowledge of the mechanisms involved from single molecules to single cells, to the level of tissues, to the whole organ and finally to the whole organism.  Ultimately and frequently these two disciplines come together when attempting to understand the effects of drugs on a physiological process, such as in hypertension, or when an individual suffers pain from  an injury or a diseased organ that is then treated with a drug.   Moreover, pharmacology is intimately involved in the study of physiology when a drug is used to either activate or inhibit a specific phsiological event.  An understanding of the basic principles and applications of pharmacology and physiology provides exciting opportunities for training and for prospective careers in academia, industry and other fields where a strong scientific foundation serves as the basis for a variety of career options in the biomedical sciences.  Our commitment is to provide our students with the educational and scientific foundation necessary for a satisfying and sustainable career in the biomedical sciences and to do so in an environment that is stimulating ans supportive and in keeping with trends and advances in these disciplines.

 

 Faculty and Research Interests

 

Our faculty are involved in multiple research projects with funding from the NIH, private foundations and pharmaceutical companies.  The Pharmacology & Physiology faculty's interests and research endeavors demonstrate the rich and diverse breadth of the department and the many opportunities for research and collaborative opportunities (Department of Pharmacology & Physiology Overview).  As many of the distinctions between scientific disciplines have blurred, we are fortunate in having close relationships with the other basic science departments within the medical school with students pursuing cross-disciplinary research and coursework in those departments.  The department has also recently initiated a graduate level program in drug discovery and development that provides additional opportunities for faculty and students from both a scientific and career options perspective to understand the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and to meet many of the leaders in the field who participate in this program.  Many of those individuals are members of our Adjunct Faculty. 

 

PHRM 502     Current Topics in Pharmacology and Physiology
PHRM 503    Pharmacology and Physiology 1st Laboratory Rotation
PHRM 504    Pharmacology and Physiology 2nd  Laboratory Rotation
PHRM 505    Pharmacology and Physiology 3rd  Laboratory Rotation
PHRM 507    Principles of Neuropharmacology
PHRM 512    Graduate Pharmacology
PHRM 516    Special Topics in Pharmacology and Physiology
PHRM 525    Drug Discovery and Development
PHRM 600    Pharmacology and Physiology Thesis Research
PHGY 503     Graduate Physiology