Pharmacology Graduate Course Descriptions

Department of Molecular Medicine
College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University

Field of Pharmacology Graduate Course Descriptions

LECTURE COURSES

VETMM 610 Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology: Fall, even-numbered years. 2 credits. By permission of the course director. Letter grade or S-U option. C.M.S. Fewtrell and pharmacology faculty; A graduate-level course surveying the molecular and cellular aspects of receptor mechanisms, signaling pathways, effector systems, and chemotherapeutic approaches. Topics covered include drug-receptor interactions; ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels; G protein pathways; growth factor signaling; lipid signaling; calcium signaling; nutrient and nitric oxide signaling; mechanisms of receptor-mediated effects on neural excitability, electrical pacemakers, muscle contraction and gene expression; chemotherapy, including antimicrobial agents and cancer chemotherapy.
(Fall 2006 Schedule)

VETMM 611 Systems Pharmacology: Spring, even-numbered years. 2 credits. By permission of the course director. Letter grade or S-U option. C.M.S. Fewtrell and pharmacology faculty; A graduate-level course surveying system- and organ-related aspects of pharmacology. Topics covered include drug disposition, pharmacokinetics, autonomic pharmacology, central nervous system pharmacology, pharmacology of inflammation, allergy and platelet function, and cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and endocrine pharmacology.
(Spring 2008 schedule)

VETMM 470 Biophysical Methods (also A&EP 470 and BIONB 470): Fall. 3 credits. By permission of the instructor. Letter grades only. M. Lindau; This course is an overview of the diversity of modern biophysical experimental techniques used in the study of biological systems at the cellular and molecular level. Topics covered include methods that examine both structure and function of biological systems: light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, Fourier optics and image processing, confocal and multiphoton microscopy, phase contrast, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and protein structure determination, multidimensional NMR, spectroscopy, calcium measurements, resonance energy transfer, membrane biophysics, electrophysiology, ion channels, action potentials, ligand-gated channels, fluctuation analysis, patch-clamp, molecular biology of ion channels, rapid kinetics, caged compounds, transmitter release, capacitance measurements, amperometry, optical traps and molecular force measurements. The course is intended for students in the engineering, physics, chemistry and biological disciplines who seek an introduction to modern biophysical experimental methods. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the course, students have diverse backgrounds. Therefore, basic knowledge of and interest in physics and mathematics is expected but strong attempts are made to give an intuitive understanding of the mathematics and physics involved. Some knowledge of physical chemistry, molecular and cell biology, or neurobiology is helpful. Depending on individual backgrounds all students find certain aspects of the course easy and other aspects demanding.

VETMM 571 Biophysical Methods Advanced Laboratory Course (also A&EP 571): Spring, taught daily during the first 3 weeks of January. 3 credits. By permission of the instructor. S/U or letter grades. M. Lindau; The Biophysical Methods Advanced Laboratory Course is offered to students of the engineering, physics, chemistry and biological disciplines who are interested in research at the interface between Physical Sciences /Engineering and Life Sciences. It is offered in January intersession as a 3-week full day intensive course. In groups of two, participants will perform 5 experiments in research laboratories on state-of-the-art equipment. Lab training sessions are arranged individually in January and throughout the spring term. Typically each experiment will be 2 days in the lab plus one day for analysis and report writing. We are currently planning to offer experiments including fluorescence spectroscopy and mathematical modelling to study antibody binding, modern microscopy (multiphoton excitation, total internal reflection evanescent wave excitation) to study cellular function, electron spin resonance studies of dynamic membrane structure, bio-electrochemistry and electrophysiology (patch clamp). The course is intended for those who seek hands-on introduction to modern biophysical experimental methods. As a prerequisite, the lecture course "Biophysical Methods" (VETMM 470 / A&EP 470) is highly recommended but qualified students who have not taken this course may also be accepted.

VETMM 700 Calcium as a Second Messenger in Cell Activation: Spring, even-numbered years. 2 credits. By permission of the instructor. Lecture-discussion. S-U grading. C.M.S. Fewtrell; This course focuses on regulation of intracellular calcium and techniques for studying calcium movements and distribution in cells. Topics include calcium channels and exchangers, calcium-binding proteins and calcium stores; inositol phosphate signalling, release of calcium from intracellular stores and activation of calcium influx; calcium gradients and oscillations; mechanisms of exocytosis and the proteins involved. Each topic is introduced with a lecture followed by discussion of recent papers from the literature.
(Course outline)

VETMM 701 Organ System Toxicology (also TOX 611): Fall, even-numbered years. 1 credit. S-U grading. W.S. Schwark; A minicourse on molecular mechanisms involved in chemical toxicity. The course will focus on chemical-induced toxicity of specific organ systems in mammalian species. Mechanisms whereby chemicals target specific organ/tissues will be emphasized. Specific examples of toxicity in organ systems such as the nervous system, kidney, liver, respiratory tract, and cardiovascular system will be discussed, particularly at the cellular/molecular level.
(Course outline)

VETMM 703 Receptor-Ligand Interactions (also BIONB 790-02): Fall, odd-numbered years. 2 credits. By permission of the instructors. Letter grade or S-U option. G.A. Weiland and R.E. Oswald; The course covers both the practical and theoretical tools for the study of ligand-receptor interactions, emphasizing the quantitative and physical chemical aspects of receptor theory. Topics discussed are basic methods of radioligand binding assays, including separation and measurement of bound and free ligand; characterization of receptor function; analysis of receptor structure; thermodynamic basis of binding; methods of analyzing equilibrium binding; equilibrium binding for complex mechanisms; and kinetics of simple and complex binding mechanisms.
(Fall 2007 schedule)

VETMM 704 CNS Synaptic Transmission: Fall, even-numbered years. 2 credits. Limited to 20 graduate students and undergraduate seniors by permission of the instructor. L. Nowak; This is a survey course in vertebrate central nervous system physiology and pharmacology that focuses on mechanisms of neurotransmitter action at the membrane and cellular levels. Roles of selected neurotransmitters in normal brain and neurological disorders are discussed. Topics are introduced in lectures and followed up by discussions of recent journal articles.
(Fall 2008 schedule)

VETMM 705 The Chemistry and Biology Behind Cell Signaling (also CHEM 760): Spring, even-numbered years. 2 credits. Letter grade or S-U option. R.A. Cerione; This course focuses on the mechanisms of action of GTP binding proteins, but examines several receptor-coupled signaling systems, including adenylyl cyclase, vertebrate vision, phosphatidylinositol lipid turnover, receptor systems regulating various ion channels, and receptors involved in cell growth regulation.
(Spring 2008 schedule)

VETMM 707 Protein NMR Spectroscopy (also BIOBM 730): Spring, even-numbered years. 2 credits. Prerequisites: CHEM 389 and 390, or CHEM 287 and 288, or permission of the instructors. Letter grade or S-U option. R.E. Oswald and L.K. Nicholson; The student acquires the tools necessary for in-depth understanding of multidimensional, multinuclear NMR experiments. Schemes for magnetization transfer, selective excitation, water suppression, decoupling, and others are presented. The application of these techniques to proteins for resonance assignment, structure determination, and characterization of dynamics is discussed.
(Spring 2008 schedule)

VETMM 720 Patch Clamp Techniques in Biology: Intersession, daily during the second and third weeks of January. 2 credits. By arrangement with the instructor. S-U grades only. L.M. Nowak; Students will learn the theoretical background for patch clamp studies in the morning lectures. The experimental techniques of whole cell recording and single channel recordings in cell-attached membrance patches are taught in 10-15 hours of afternoon laboratory instruction per student. Laboratory training sessions are arranged individually throughout the spring semester.
(Spring 2008 schedule)

RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

VETMM 730 Graduate Research in Pharmacology or Molecular Medicine: Fall, spring and summer. 1-12 credits. S-U grades only. Field of Pharmacology faculty

This course is offered by individual faculty members in the Department of Molecular Medicine and the Graduate Field of Pharmacology for graduate students undertaking research towards M.S. or Ph.D. degrees.
This course cannot be used to fulfill the formal course requirements for the Field of Pharmacology.

VETMM 740 Special Projects and Research in Pharmacology: Fall, spring and summer. 1-3 credits each topic. By arrangement with the instructor. Letter grade or S-U option. Field of Pharmacology Faculty; This course enables students to undertake research in an area related to the research interests of a faculty member in the Graduate Field of Pharmacology. Topics include, but are not limited to: Mechanisms of Growth-Factor Action - R.A. Cerione; The Role of Calcium in Stimulus-Secretion Coupling - C.M.S. Fewtrell; Mechanisms of Neurotransmitter Release - M. Lindau; Central Nervous System Neurotransmitters - L.M. Nowak.
This course cannot be used to fulfill the formal course requirements for the Field of Pharmacology.

DIRECTED READINGS

Fall, spring, and summer. 1-3 credits each topic. By arrangement with the instructor. Letter grade or S-U option. Reading and discussion. Field of Pharmacology faculty

VETMM 760 Directed Readings in Pharmacology: Individual members of the Graduate Field of Pharmacology offer directed readings and discussions on pharmacological topics to small groups or to individual students. Topics include, but are not limited to: Receptor Mechanisms - G.A. Weiland; Biochemical Neuropharmacology - G.A. Weiland; Amino Acid Neurotransmitters - L.M. Nowak; Calcium Signalling - C.M.S. Fewtrell.

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Last modified: Thursday, February 7, 2008 gaw