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Overview

Course Prescription

Considers the biochemical processes involved in achieving clinically-relevant drug concentrations that result in therapeutic effects and drug toxicity, from drug input, distribution, and elimination plus the ways in which these processes are described (pharmacokinetic modelling). Explores factors such as drug-drug interactions, pharmacogenetics, dosing and pharmacokinetic considerations in selected populations and that may influence both clinical effectiveness and drug toxicity.

Course Overview

MEDSCI 318 aims to help us understand the science behind how medicines are developed and used effectively and safely. It is primarily concerned with pharmacokinetics (PK) and drug toxicity. PK describes the relationship between the drug dose and its tissue concentration, and how the drug concentration changes with time. PK integrates the processes of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) quantitatively (with numbers) by determining parameters, which can be used to calculate the dose required to achieve a target concentration. PK knowledge helps us decide how much drug to take, by which route and when, so that clinical benefit can be maximised. However, drugs can also have harmful effects (toxicity), which are concentration-dependent. Understanding a drug’s PK characteristics can be used to predict and prevent adverse drug effects early in the drug development process, as well as to understand toxicities observed in certain patients using already approved medicines (sometimes referred to as toxicokinetics (TK), rather than PK). Understanding PK, therefore, is critical both for the development and evaluation of new drugs, as well as the selection of an appropriate dose in clinical pharmacology. The role of PK in the effective and safe use of medicines is the focus of MEDSCI 318.

To put these concepts in context we focus on two key scenarios which form the basis of our labs, lectures and workshops in the first and second half of semester accordingly:

1. Selection of a safe starting dose for a first-in-human clinical trial.

2. Adjustment of dose(s) of approved medicines to accommodate differences between individual patients.

If you are interested in developing new drugs, how drug regulatory authorities like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) make decisions to test and approve drugs, understanding prescribing, understanding adverse drug reactions and more, join us in MEDSCI 318 Pharmacokinetics and Drug Toxicity!

Course Contacts

We recommend you contact the course coordinators using our course specific email: medsci318contact@auckland.ac.nz

Course Coordinator:

Dr Rachel Cameron (Senior Tutor)

SMS Teaching Hub, Room B505-102, r.cameron@auckland.ac.nz

Course Directors:

Dr Jacqueline Hannam

503-302-J, Ext 82869, j.hannam@auckland.ac.nz

Professor Malcolm Tingle

503-302-H, Ext 84949, m.tingle@auckland.ac.nz

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect a total of 24 hours of lectures, 24 hours of laboratories, 12 hours of workshops and 90 hours of reading and thinking actively about the content and working on/preparing for assessments.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite
Restriction

Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
Grafton

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled laboratories to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including workshops will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

We do not recommend the purchase of any one particular textbook to support course content. However, you may find the following textbooks useful for background reading for the lecture/laboratory material:

  1. Ritter JM, Flower RJ, Henderson G, Loke YK, MacEwan DJ, Robinson ES, Fullerton J. Rang & Dale’s Pharmacology. 10th ed. London: Elsevier; 2024.
  2. Katzung BG. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 14th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2018.

N.B. Copies of Rang & Dale’s Pharmacology are available in the library or online via Clinical Key (connect via the library’s website).

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Additional Information on Assessment

To pass this course, you must:

  • Achieve a minimum of 45% in both test + exam combined, and 45% in coursework components (laboratories, workshops)
  • And achieve a minimum of 50% of the available marks overall
  • And attend at least 75% of the laboratory sessions

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234567

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

This course was offered for the first time in 2021. The numbers of students providing feedback through SET typically has been low each year, but valuable information regarding subjects such as assessment weighting and learning resources has been acted upon. 

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Additional Information on Class Representatives

Class representatives will be elected at the start of the semester and their contact details shared via Canvas.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Additonal Information on Special Circumstances

If you are unable to complete assessments, contact staff for advice using medsci318contact@auckland.ac.nz

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.