Department of Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the science of drug action on biological systems. In its entirety, it embraces knowledge of the sources, chemical properties, biological effects and therapeutic uses of drugs. It is a science basic to medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry and veterinary medicine. Pharmacological studies range from those that determine the effects of chemical agents upon subcellular mechanisms, to those that deal with the potential hazards of pesticides and herbicides and to those that focus on treatment and prevention of major diseases by drug therapy. Pharmacologists offer a unique perspective to solving drug, hormone, and chemical-related problems which impinge on human health. As they unlock the mysteries of drug actions, discover new therapies, and develop new medicinal products, they inevitably touch upon all our lives.

Pharmacology helps in creating some of the fastest paced medical advances today. Pharmacology incorporates other disciplines of life sciences including biology, chemistry, genomics, and physiology and eventually finding a result for all research works.

A plethora of choices stand at the gateway for Pharmacologists. They can join as teaching faculty or purse research in academic institutions or in any areas of health sciences including medicine, pharmacology, dentistry, osteopathy, veterinary medicine and nursing. Government institutions like National Institutes of Health, The Environmental Protection Agency, The Food and Drug Administration, and The Centre for Disease Control employ pharmacologists in research centres. Government laboratories engage in basic research to study actions and effects of pharmacological agents. The FDA assumes drug safety and regulatory responsibilities. Application of pharmacology to health and agriculture have resulted in phenomenal growth of the drug manufacturing industry.

Multinational pharmaceutical companies have good association with our pharmacologists to develop products and to determine molecular or biochemical actions of various chemicals and toxicologists determine the safety of drugs with therapeutic potential. Collaborating with scientists from many backgrounds contributes to entering unexplored realms and participating in discoveries that have an impact on life and health. Divisions of Pharmacology include cardiovascular pharmacology, Behavioral pharmacology, Biochemical and Cellular pharmacology, Immuno pharmacology, Chemotherapy, Clinical pharmacology, Pharmacotherapeutics, Pharmacoepidemiology, Pharmacoeconomics, Drug discovery, Drug development and Regulatory affairs, Endocrine pharmacology, Neuropharmacology, Molecular pharmacology, Systems and Integrative Pharmacology, Toxicology and Veterinary pharmacology.

The theory classes focus on discussing the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of different classes of drugs which provide an idea about their pharmacological actions, adverse effects, drug interactions and mechanism of actions which depends with dose and their therapeutic applications.

The practical class focusing on the drug receptor interactions reveals the affinity as well as intrinsic activities of drugs on isolated organs or whole animals. Students get exposed to pharmacological screening of chemical moieties in laboratory animals (Wistar rat, Albino mice). Careers for Pharmacologists include discipline specific role in Clinical trials, Clinical Pharmacology, academic positions (medical and non-medical), governmental positions, private industrial positions, scientific writing, Pharmacovigilance scientific patents and law, biotech and pharmaceutical employment, food industry, forensics/law enforcement, Clinical research, Clinical research assistant, public health, and environmental/ecological sciences.