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Course Requirements

In the first year, students will complete a core curriculum that includes the courses outlined below.

2012-2013 Academic Year

    Quarter I: September 4 - October 26
  • Principles of Pharmacology I: Chemical Biology

    • Chemical biology is a diverse and evolving field involving chemical approaches to studying and manipulating biological systems. In this course, students will develop an understanding of chemical reactions used in the synthesis and biosynthesis of small molecules and macromolecules, and of the chemical principles that underlie enzyme function and receptor pharmacology. These topics are at the core of modern molecular pharmacology and are essential to understanding how drugs are currently developed in the pharmaceutical industry. At the end of the course, students give an oral presentation on a current topic in chemical biology of their choosing.

    • Drs. Sauve and Tan, Co-Directors

  • Logic and Experimental Design

    • This multidisciplinary course combines lectures about the fundamental biochemical, cellular, molecular, immunological, genetic, and bioinformatics approaches that are used in biomedical research with critical discussion of research papers. In addition to lectures, each meeting will have provisions for a discussion period. Generally, the discussion period will be used to discuss an original research paper, but occasionally it will be used for a model building laboratory, or a review session. The development of a research proposal is a major component of the course. The course is open to all students and fellows and it is a core course for both neuroscience and pharmacology.

    • Dr. John Wagner (Neuroscience Program), Director

  • Critical Analysis of the Scientific Literature in Pharmacology

    • This course focuses on the underlying logic behind the design of scientific experiments. An emphasis is placed on understanding how hypotheses are generated, and how variables, assays, rationales, and model building are utilized in experimental design. Each class focuses on a recent paper in the scientific literature, and uses the paper as a starting point for discussion. Students are expected to propose and justify novel experiments based on the paper and discussion. Students are encouraged to use “Protocols in Molecular Biology,” as well as other resources to become familiar with the methodology, advantages, and limitations of the experimental approaches used in the papers. It is expected that students will have to read background papers for each of the papers discussed in class.

    • Drs. Jaffrey and Gross, Co-Directors

    Quarter II: November 19 - January 11
  • Principles of Pharmacology II: Signal Transduction

    • This is an advanced course on the molecular pharmacology of cellular signal transduction mechanisms. The course will provide students with a fundamental understanding of the recurring themes that have evolved to enable cell-cell communication - lectures cover all major mammalian signaling pathways. An emphasis is placed on the use of pharmacologic and chemical tools to study problems in signal transduction and on structural insights into signaling mechanisms that have been gained by the application of X-ray, NMR, and computational approaches. Major topics to be covered include: (1) Signaling through G-protein coupled receptors; (2) Heterotrimeric and monomeric G proteins; (3) Signaling through enzyme-linked receptors; (4) Receptors with tyrosine kinase activity; (5) Signaling via ion channels; (6) Lipid-mediated cell signaling; (7) Signaling via reactive molecules/redox; and (8) Signaling through nuclear receptors. The course is intended to expose students to the most current progress in the field of cell signaling. Upon completion, it is expected that students will comprehend and appreciate the merits of journal articles that report the latest findings in signal transduction research.

    • Drs. Gross and Jaffrey, Co-Directors

  • Logic and Experimental Design

    • This multidisciplinary course combines lectures about the fundamental biochemical, cellular, molecular, immunological, genetic, and bioinformatics approaches that are used in biomedical research with critical discussion of research papers. In addition to lectures, each meeting will have provisions for a discussion period. Generally, the discussion period will be used to discuss an original research paper, but occasionally it will be used for a model building laboratory, or a review session. The development of a research proposal is a major component of the course. The course is open to all students and fellows and it is a core course for both neuroscience and pharmacology.

    • Dr. John Wagner (Neuroscience Program), Director

  • Critical Analysis of the Scientific Literature in Pharmacology

    • This course focuses on the underlying logic behind the design of scientific experiments. An emphasis is placed on understanding how hypotheses are generated, and how variables, assays, rationales, and model building are utilized in experimental design. Each class focuses on a recent paper in the scientific literature, and uses the paper as a starting point for discussion. Students are expected to propose and justify novel experiments based on the paper and discussion. Students are encouraged to use “Protocols in Molecular Biology,” as well as other resources to become familiar with the methodology, advantages, and limitations of the experimental approaches used in the papers. It is expected that students will have to read background papers for each of the papers discussed in class.

    • Drs. Jaffrey and Gross, Co-Directors

    Quarter III: January 22 - March 22
  • Principles of Pharmacology III: Principles and Systems Pharmacology

    • The Systems Pharmacology Module occupies the third quarter of the year-long Introduction to Pharmacological Principles. It is a 9-week course arranged into three modules: 5 sessions in the first module cover general pharmacological principles, 9 sessions in the second module focus on nervous and circulatory systems, and 10 sessions in the third and final module cover host defense, renal and endocrine systems. An understanding of systems pharmacology is necessary and valuable for all Pharmacology Graduate Students.

    • Drs. Levi and Levin, Co-Directors

  • Neuropharmacology I: Genes, Drugs and Behavior

    • This course is jointly sponsored by the Neuroscience and Pharmacology Programs. It is designed to present current concepts of the major central nervous system (CNS) neurotransmitters and their functional neuroanatomy. The course will integrate discussions of the mechanisms of neurotransmitter biosynthesis and release, receptor signal transduction, and the alterations produced by CNS drugs.

    • Drs. Toth and Baker (Neuroscience Program), Co-Directors

  • Pharmacology Seminar Series

    • The Pharmacology Seminar Series is a series of presentations by invited speakers from universities and the pharmaceutical industry discussing topics of importance in the broad field of pharmacology. These topics include both scientific and policy presentations. Students may choose to have lunch with the speaker to discuss a wide range of topics in an informal atmosphere. In addition, each student meets, as a part of a small group, with one speaker after the seminar when the discussion focuses on the topic discussed in the seminar.

    • Dr. Reidenberg, Director

    Quarter IV: April 8 - June 7
  • Principles of Pharmacology IV: Molecular Pharmacology of Cancer

    • Focuses on the principles and applications of modern cancer therapeutic approaches. Lecture topics range from traditional cytotoxic and anti-mitotic agents, to natural products and their chemistry, to biologic and immunologic therapies, to rationally designed targeted small molecule inhibitors. Basic principles underlying mechanisms of cancer cell death, angiogenesis, and radiobiology and imaging are also covered. Cancer stem cells and therapeutic approaches focused on cancer stem cells are also discussed.

    • Drs. Scheinberg and Li, Co-Directors

  • Neuropharmacology II: Neuropeptides and Pain

    • The Neuropharmacology II course focuses on signaling by neuropeptides, opioid receptors, mechanisms of pain management and drugs of abuse.

    • Drs. Inturrisi and Szeto, Co-Directors

  • Pharmacology Seminar Series

    • The Pharmacology Seminar Series is a series of presentations by invited speakers from universities and the pharmaceutical industry discussing topics of importance in the broad field of pharmacology. These topics include both scientific and policy presentations. Students may choose to have lunch with the speaker to discuss a wide range of topics in an informal atmosphere. In addition, each student meets, as a part of a small group, with one speaker after the seminar when the discussion focuses on the topic discussed in the seminar.

    • Dr. Reidenberg, Director

A small group of Pharmacology PhD students meets with the seminar speaker, Dr. Maria Figueroa, on March 30, 2010, to discuss her research in more detail after Dr. Figueroa's seminar. This is part of the Pharmacology Seminar Series course directed by Dr. Reidenberg. 

Electives

Students will also complete one 2-quarter elective and one 1-quarter elective by June of their second year. The 2-quarter elective must be selected from the following:

  • Biochemistry and Structural Biology (Qtrs. I and II)

    • This two semester course covers equilibria, bond formation, protein chemistry and structure, nucleic acid chemistry and structure, ligand binding, chemical and enzyme kinetics, enzyme reaction mechanism, principles of macromolecular analysis, principles of protein purification, and principles of macromolecular recognition and specificity.

  • Fundamental Immunology (Qtrs. I and II)

    • Quarters I and II of this course provide a comprehensive overview of basic immunology beginning with the innate immune responses, followed by a study of the main aspects of acquired immunity. Specific interactions of target cells and T cells that are regulated by the MHC molecule and peptide antigens on the target cell and the antigen specific T cell receptor are studied. The generation and molecular structure of B and T cell antigen receptors, and signaling through immune receptors are covered in detail. Additionally, the development of antigen specific T and B cells, and specific roles for some cytokines / lymphokines are also explored. Quarters III and IV of the course cover in more depth T and B cell-mediated immunity and topics of clinical relevance, such as microbial immunity, allergy, autoimmunity, tumor immunology, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, transplantation immunology, and immunotherapy. All the topics are studied though lectures and in-depth review of selected articles.

  • Molecular Genetics (Qtrs. I and II)

    • This course is organized around the principles of genetic analysis, with examples chosen from organisms that best illustrate those principles. The course is based on lectures, problem sets, and discussion sections. Topics covered include: the nature of the gene, linkage and physical maps, recombination mechanisms, nature of mutations, mutations as tools to dissect gene function, transposition, epigenetics, cancer genetics, genetic analysis of development, and cell-cell signaling.

  • Cell Biology (Qtrs. III and IV)

    • This elective course offers an overview of modern biophysical experimental techniques used in the study of biological systems at the cellular and molecular level. Topics include light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, Fourier optics and image processing, confocal and multiphoton microscopy, evanescent-wave microscopy and fluorescence correlations spectroscopy, phase contrast, electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, multidimensional NMR, chromophores, calcium measurements, resonance energy transfer, membrane biophysics, ion channels, action potentials, ligand-gated channels, fluctuation analysis, patch-clamping, rapid kinetics, caged compounds, transmitter release, capacitance measurements, amperometry, optical traps, molecular force measurements, and computer modeling. While a basic knowledge of physics and mathematics is helpful, this is an interdisciplinary course designed for students with diverse backgrounds.

  • Gene Structure and Function (Qtrs. III and IV)

    • This is a two-quarter course that explores the regulatory mechanisms governing the flow of information in cells from DNA to RNA to protein. The first module of the course deals with DNA replication, recombination and repair, and introduces basic principles of DNA topology and protein-DNA interactions as they apply to these and other processes. In the next module, the fundamentals of gene structure and transcription are presented. Topics to be discussed include: structure and function of transcription factors and RNA polymerases, mechanisms of transcriptional activation and repression, the effects of chromatin on transcription, analysis of transcriptional networks by proteomics and functional genomics, and transcriptional control of the cell cycle. The final module covers post-initiation maturation and processing of mRNA, culminating with its translation into protein. Topics include: mRNA capping, splicing and polyadenylation, regulation of mRNA stability, mechanisms and functions of RNA interference (RNAi), and mechanisms and regulation of translation.

  • Club Biomed (Neuro-444)

    • This course will educate students about the processes involved in drug and medical device development and commercialization. Upon completion of the course, students will be better equipped to compete and collaborate with big pharmaceutical companies. The course will include presentations on drug development, the FDA, patent law, clinical trials, pricing policy, drug sales, financial analysis, and related topics. It will also include presentations on specific biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies including an analysis of present and future performance. Students will be expected to actively participate in 15 meetings over a two-year period (there are 10 meetings each year), follow a single company for a year, and formally present a company and evaluate its prospects.

  • Principles of Clinical Pharmacology (CTSC course)

    • This course is designed to present basic principles for understanding the rationale behind development of drug therapy with consideration of the factors involved in individual variability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenomics. Topics will include: dose-response, drug efficacy and potency, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, the effects of liver and kidney disease on dose-response, drugs in the young, the elderly, and pregnancy. In addition, guest lecturers from industry and the FDA will discuss drug development from their respective points of view.

    The other elective may be chosen from any of the courses offered by the Graduate School.

    The Graduate School also has an Exchange Program/ Inter-University Registration with CUNY. Please use the following URLs to search for graduate courses: http://www.gc.cuny.edu/student_web/course_listing.htm or https://banner.gc.cuny.edu/prod/plsql/bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched. If you are interested in registering for any of the CUNY courses please contact Denise Jenkins, The Graduate School registrar, directly.

    Journal Club and Research Symposium

    In addition to coursework, students are required to participate in a bi-weekly student-run Pharmacology Journal Club and the annual Vincent DuVigneaud Research Symposium, held every May. During the period of thesis research, students continue to register for and participate in the Pharmacology Seminar Series and attend all Pharmacology Program seminars, including the WMC Department of Pharmacology Seminar Series and the SKI Molecular Pharmacology & Chemistry Seminar Series.

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