What is Pharmacometrics?
Studies in preclinical and clinical
pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology
typically involve collection of various types of experimental
data in individual and groups of biologic preparations, animals,
and human subjects.Appropriate methods of analysis of such data
requires an understanding of the underlying science and well as
use of biostatistics, computational methods, and pharmacokinetic
and pharmacodynamic modeling. Scientists with proficiency in
pharmacometrics can assist in the design and analysis of
protocols and studies related to drug therapy questions and
provide insights into the processes which control the time course
of drug concentrations and clinical, pharmacologic and
toxicologic responses.
Purpose: To prepare graduates
for industrial or other positions or for more advanced academic
training in areas requiring computer-assisted analysis of
biopharmaceutic, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, toxicologic,
or other types of experimental data.
Prerequisites: Calculus (e.g., MTH 141) and
computer programming (eg. C++, Fortran, Visual Basic).
Requirements: Enrollment in the Pharmaceutical Sciences
Department and completion of 30 credits of academic work. It is
expected that program completion will be within 1 yr.
A. Required Courses (12 credits) F = Fall, S =
Spring
- PHC 607 (3) F Intermediate Pharmacokinetics
- PHC 504 (2) F Computational Basis of Pharmacometrics
- PHC 608 (2) S Advanced Pharmacokinetics
- PHC 609 (2) S Pharmacodynamics
- PHC 502 (3) F Biostatistics (also offered as PHM 598)
B. Recommended Elective Courses (16 credits)
- PHC 532 (4) S Applied Clinical Pharmacokinetics I
- PHC 630 (2) S Drug Metabolism and Disposition
- PHC 507 (2) S Biological Transport
- SPM 501 (4) F Epidemiology Principles
- SPM 505 (3) F Introductory Biostatistics
- SPM 506 (3) S Application of Statistics to Epidemiology
- PGY 520 (3) F Applications of Computers to Physiological
Problems
- PMY 626 (2) F Toxicology Principles and Practice
- PMY 627 (2) F Target Organ Toxicity
- MCH 501 (4) F Molecular Structure and Reaction
Mechanisms
- PMY 501 (2) F Mechanisms of Drug Action
- PMY 550 (2) F Receptor Pharmacology
- CSE 503 (3) F Computer Science for Non-Majors I
- PHM 516 (2) S Clinical Research Methods
Note: Students with a biological background should emphasize
computational types of electives while those with a
math/statistics background should take biomedical electives.
C. PHC 616 (1-5) S Research. Completion of a research project
under supervision or collaboration with a suitable graduate
faculty member in the School of Pharmacy. This project must
involve data analysis and modeling. A project report in the form
of a manuscript must be submitted and, if convenient,
presentation of a poster at a suitable forum.
Supervision: One member of the Graduate Faculty of the School
of Pharmacy will serve as Supervisor and two other faculty
members will serve on the MS Committee.
D. PHC 613, 614 (1,1) F,S. Seminar. Students will be expected
to attend the regular weekly departmental seminar.
Note: Students will be required to attend tutorials in use and
applications of software such as Adapt II, Kinetica, WinNonMix,
NonMem, and perhaps other programs.
E. Examination. A final oral examination will be required at
the end of the academic and research program. This will be
administered by the student¹s MS Committee in tandem with
the presentation and defense of the research project.
Who should apply: Students interested in the computational
aspects of pharmaceutical research would be well suited for the
program. Applicants should have at least a Bachelors degree in
Pharmaceutics, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Biology, Chemistry,
Biochemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, or another suitable
discipline. Work and computer experience in a research or
clinical laboratory will be a plus.
How to apply: Students interested in obtaining the MS degree
from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences can apply online
through the department webpage. Inquiries about this program can be addressed to Dr. Murali Ramanathan (Director of Graduate Studies, murali@buffalo.edu), or Dr. William J. Jusko (Program
Coordinator, wjjusko@acsu.buffalo.edu). Applications for Fall admission are accepted through
February 15. Late applicants are considered on a space-available
basis.
Stipend availability: At this point, no stipend is available
to support students in this program. However, there may be
opportunities for either scholarship support or part-time
employment in faculty laboratories or other local facilities.
Tuition and fee information can be found here: http://src.buffalo.edu/studentaccount/tuition.shtml.
|