This unit aims to develop students' understanding of the therapeutic applications of drugs based on their underlying pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, concentrating on the pharmacology of agents most widely used in Australia and exploring issues related to the use and safety of these agents.

This unit will explore the physicochemical properties of drugs and how this determines the interactions of small molecules (drugs) with biological macromolecules (enzymes and receptors). All stages in the process of drug design and development will be investigated, including computational drug design, structure activity studies, synthesis and activity assays. Students will also gain experience in a variety of experimental techniques related to drug design. In addition, students will develop skills including critical thinking, the use of information technology and report writing.

This unit of study will provide an introduction to the concepts required for the study of Pharmacy and integrate knowledge from the various sub-disciplines within the Pharmaceutical Sciences. Topics studied include sterilisation techniques, disinfectants, antiseptics, preservatives, cleanroom technology, physicochemical/molecular properties underlying drug action, drug metabolism, bioactivation and inactivation, identification of drugs and their metabolites, and toxicology. These concepts will be further explored in workshop formats.

This unit of study utilises the knowledge gained in PHAR5513 Pharmaceutical Chemistry 1A to develop students' ability to apply basic scientific and medicinal chemistry concepts in the rationalization of observed biological activities for a series of drug molecules. The unit of study will be presented as a series of discrete topic areas based on therapeutic classes (hormonal, cardiovascular, herbal medicines, central nervous system, chemotherapy, antihistamines, photochemotherapy and sunscreens) and macromolecular targets (enzyme, G-protein coupled receptor, nuclear receptor). Lectures will be supported by self-directed learning and tutorials. Students will also undertake quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) computer-based workshops and herbal medicine practicals as well as prepare a herbal medicine assay and oral presentation. These learning activities will further develop students' skills in critical thinking, the use of information technology and report writing.

In this unit of study students learn to evaluate the physicochemical principles, design, formulation, and manufacture of pharmaceutical dose forms. The formulation of liquid dose forms including parenteral, nasal, ophthalmic and aural products is discussed. Related topics such as diffusion and dissolution of drugs, drug solubilisation, surface and interfacial tension, surface active materials, micelle formation, pharmaceutical complexes and drug-packaging interactions are covered. Other topics covered in this unit include solid dose forms and particle science, rheology, dispersion dose forms including suspensions, colloidal dispersions, and emulsions; topical dose forms and semisolids; inhalation pharmaceutical aerosols; protein and peptide drugs and formulations; rectal products; novel drug delivery technologies. Aspects pertaining to the stability of dose forms are also presented in this unit.

This unit of study is the first of three integrated units (Pharmacy Practice A, Pharmacy Practice B and Pharmacy Practice C) that will be completed during the MPharm program. It will commence with an introduction to the profession of pharmacy, the Australian health care and drug distribution systems, and the National Medicines Policy, including the National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines. Themes such as evidence based practice, pharmacoepidemiology, drug information, medication safety, ethics and communication skills will be introduced early in the unit of study and will then be revisited and reinforced in the remainder of Pharmacy Practice A, as well as throughout Pharmacy Practice B and C. During the second half of semester, a number of therapeutics topics will be covered in a problem-based learning format. Practice-based tutorials will be supplemented with relevant therapeutics lectures and other learning resources. Students will explore the role of the pharmacist in advising on primary and self care, performing clinical interventions, conducting medication reviews, monitoring therapeutic outcomes and participating in therapeutic decision making within these therapeutic areas.

This unit of study integrates the information and skills developed in Pharmacy Practice A and Current Topics in Pharmacology within an experiential setting, providing students with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skill base. Students will undertake their learning within both the community and hospital setting, where they will: observe the role of the pharmacist, and their relationship to other health care professionals, within the health care team; utilise their communication skills to educate and deliver drug information to pharmacy clients (patients, pharmacists, health professionals, peers); and develop their clinical knowledge by observing, monitoring, and researching the application of pharmacotherapy to patient care, focusing on the core therapeutic areas (as covered in coursework). Additionally, students will participate in campus-based (face-to-face and/or on-line) tutorial and/or workshop sessions, as well as on-line activities and self-directed learning modules, that will enable them to demonstrate, in a group setting, clinical knowledge and skill development, as well as provide a forum to discuss various practice issues, as experienced during clinical placement.

This unit of study gives an introduction to dispensing practice, accuracy in dispensing, legal aspects of dispensing prescriptions, procedures for dispensing prescriptions, documentation of dispensing procedures, containers and labelling of dispensed medicines, dispensing of particular formulations, effect of changing formulation variables on the physical properties and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, dispensing and therapeutics and dosage. A series of workshops and practical classes complements the lectures, allowing students to dispense and critically assess a variety of pharmaceutical products and a range of proprietary items, as well as facilitating the development of error-detection skills. During the second half of the semester, the process of dispensing is extended to include therapeutic aspects and recommendations.

This unit of study is a continuation of Pharmacy Practice A. A number of therapeutics topics will be covered in a problem-based learning format. Practice-based tutorials will be supplemented with relevant therapeutics lectures and other learning resources. Students will explore the role of the pharmacist in advising on primary and self care, performing clinical interventions, conducting medication reviews, monitoring therapeutic outcomes and participating in therapeutic decision making within these therapeutic areas. This unit of study will facilitate students to gain in-depth knowledge about the pharmacotherapy of disease states through self-directed learning. Themes such as evidence based practice, pharmacoepidemiology, drug information, medication safety, ethics and communication skills will be incorporated throughout the unit of study.

This unit of study is intended to provide knowledge in a number of fundamental areas that guide and provide evidence to support the safe, effective and ethical use of medicines. These fundamental areas of knowledge start with an understanding of the relationship between drugs interacting with target sites in the body and the effect produced (i.e. pharmacodynamic principles) and understanding the physiological and physicochemical factors that govern the movement of drugs around the body and the time course of exposure of body tissues and blood to drugs (i.e. pharmacokinetics). These principles involve developing concepts and models to explain drug activity in patients and to guide appropriate drug dosage selection.
This unit will also explore reasons behind variability in response to medicines among different individuals. The effects of disease, other drugs, demographics and the genetic basis for variable response will be introduced. Basic pharmacogenetic principles for explaining and predicting pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic variability in response will be explored.
Students are also exposed to the notion that medicines may produce adverse effects (as well as beneficial ones). The mechanisms underlying adverse reactions to drugs and how these are classified are explored as are the principles for detecting and avoiding these effects.
Ultimately, many options often exist to manage illness. While the fundamental principles described above assist in understanding how individual drugs should be used, they do not alone provide knowledge to select among alternative options. This unit will introduce students to methods that are used to provide evidence of efficacy and safety of different therapeutic options and to define the place in therapy of these options. To do this, the principles that underpin evidence based medicine (including the clinical trial and pharmacoepidemiology) and the notion of levels of evidence are introduced. Exposure to these principles is intended to develop in students a basic understanding of how to critically evaluate therapeutic options.

The aim of this unit of study is to explore recent advances in drug technology and to illustrate how basic research underpins clinical practice and pharmaceutical care. Students will be exposed to the newly developed and "up-and-coming" biotechnologies such as gene therapy, immunotherapies and prodrugs in the context of neurological disorders, inflammatory diseases, cancer and AIDS. Students will also obtain molecular insights into the actions of natural products. On successful completion of this unit of study, students will: be aware of the latest advances in drug technology; understand how basic research underpins clinical practice and pharmaceutical care; have developed advanced literature searching skills and be able to comprehend the work in original research articles and extract the relevant information from those articles; have improved their writing and oral communication skills; and comprehend the role chemistry plays in determining the molecular basis of drug action. This unit of study will hone the student's critical thinking, literature searching and scientific presentation skills - thus equipping the students with the essential skills for life-long learning.

This unit of study aims to expose the students to six themes associated with new drug development. As an integrated pharmaceutics course, this unit covers the topics of preclinical screening, ADME and animal testing, pre-formulation, formulation, clinical trials and finally product marketing and post marketing responsibilities. Themes will be introduced in the form of lectures given by the faculty as well as presented by invited scientific professionals.

This unit of study is a continuation of Pharmacy Practice A and B. A number of therapeutics topics will be covered in a problem-based learning format. Practice-based tutorials will be supplemented with relevant therapeutics lectures and other learning resources. Students will explore the role of the pharmacist in advising on primary and self care, performing clinical interventions, conducting medication reviews, monitoring therapeutic outcomes, participating in therapeutic decision making and involvement in health promotion and public health within these therapeutic areas. Themes such as evidence based practice, pharmacoepidemiology, drug information, medication safety, ethics and communication skills will be incorporated throughout the unit of study.

This is an experiential unit of study. Off-campus placements will provide students with opportunities to enhance their knowledge and skill-base within clinical and professional settings. The sites may include primary and tertiary health care, general and specialist practice in rural and metropolitan areas, professional organisations and Quality Use of Medicines settings as well as the pharmaceutical industry. Two block placements are undertaken, 1 x 2 weeks in July (Block 1) and 1 x 2 weeks in November/December (Block 2).