Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology

The course aims to introduce students to the main pharmacological and toxicological methodologies used in the various stages of the development of drugs and for the evaluation of the toxicity of substances.

After following the course of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methodologies, students will understand the processes that lead to the identification of a potential therapeutic target and the development of a drug in the pre-clinical and clinical phases. In particular, at the end of the course, the student will be able to: i) identify and understand the pre-clinical studies and models that are used to develop a potential drug; 2) know and apply the methodologies for evaluating the activity, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of a clinical candidate; 3) acquire knowledge on pre-clinical and clinical regulations; 4) understand the types of adverse effects and the factors conditioning the toxic effects of drugs; 5) describe biotechnological and nanotechnological drugs and associated pharmacological and toxicological aspects; 5) understand the basic principles of gene therapy and describe the associated pharmacological and toxicological aspects.