PHC 250 - Apothecarial Adventures: Exploration of the Pharmaceutical and Pharmacotherapeutic Sciences

Instructor: K. Boje

  • Lecture: Monday, 2:00–4:50 p.m.
  • Location: Cooke 508
  • Credit Hours: 3
  • General Education Requirement: Elective

Description

The focus of this honors seminar is on the pharmaceutical science behind well known (and not so well known) drugs that are widely used by society. The term “drugs” is a generic term and in a broad sense, describes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, herbs, nutriceuticals, nutritional supplements, street (DEA defined illegal) drugs, and societal sanctioned substances that may not be generally considered as drugs (e.g. nicotine, alcohol and caffeine). The faculty of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will challenge you to think about the pharmaceutical and pharmacotherapeutic problems, solutions and future issues that accompany popular (and not so popular) drugs. This honors seminar is divided into three sections, with topics that may include (but are not limited to):

  1. Fundamentals of the Drug Development and Discovery Process
    • Pharmaceutical Drug Development and the FDA Approval Process (offered by Dr. D. Triggle)
    • History of Pharmaceuticals (offered by Prof. M. Triggle)
    • Generic Drugs—A solution to a Generic Problem (offered by Dr. H.L. Fung)
    • Generic Drugs—A solution to a Generic Problem (offered by Dr. H.L. Fung)
    • Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics—The Science of Individualized Drug Therapy
    • Pharacogenics—The New Paradigm for Drug Discovery?
    • The Health Science Library—A Key Research Tool
  2. Contemporary Issues
    • Herbs and Nutriceuticals—They’re Readily Available, They’re Cheaper, But Do They Really Work?
    • Viagra—A case Study in Clinical Serendipity
    • Caffeine—The World’s Most Popular Drug?
    • Thalidomide—A Drug with a Bad Rap?
    • Synthyroid—The Dilemma of Pharmaceutical Industry Sponsored Research
    • Does Alcohol Really Make You Dumb?
    • Claritin, Clarinex—When Should a Prescription Drug Be Made Available Without a Prescription?
    • Counterfeit Drugs—How Do You Know That Drug You’re Taking is the Real Thing?
    • Lifestyle Drugs—Are Everyday Problems Becoming Diseases?
    • Personalized Medicine—Will Genetics Revolutionize Drug Prescribing?
    • Marijuana—Medical Boon or Political Bane?
    • Nicotine—Is the Cigarette the perfect Drug Delivery Device?
    • Immunosuppressive Drugs—Vital Breakthrough for Organ Transplantation?
    • Controlling Hypertension—A Research Success Story
  3. Student Projects: All students will research a pharmaceutical topic of their own choosing. Based on his/her interest, the student will be paired with a faculty mentor who will guide the student in their research project. Students must utilize the resources of a research library as well as the internet in the course of their research. Students will (a) prepare a written report (due at the end of the semester) and (b) communicate their project findings to their peers through a 20-25 minute class activity of their own choosing.

Assessment: Students will be evaluated based on class participation, homework assignments and on their student projects. While there are no exams, announced in-class quizzes may be given. Attendance is required.

About the Instructor

Dr. Boje is a native of Western New York. She is an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Director of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Major Program and Vice Chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department. She received a BS degree in Pharmacy, from Duquesne University in 1983 and a PhD in Pharmaceutics from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1988. She also spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC. Her research interests include: development and utilization of emerging educational technologies in the teaching/learning process; mechanism and therapy of neuroinflammatory diseases; and blood-brain barrier transport of drugs. She is an avid camper, Buffalo Bills fan and is passionate about dog rescue. Office address: H510 Hochstetter Hall, North Campus, PH: (716) 645-2842, ext. 241, E-mail: boje@buffalo.edu.