Module PHAR4003: Targeted Therapeutics - optimisation, critique and responsibility

Department: Pharmacy [Newcastle University]

PHAR4003: Targeted Therapeutics - optimisation, critique and responsibility

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• PHAR4013 - Research Project

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• Students will examine the area of oncology and infection including complex formulation concepts and the pharmacological and chemical mechanisms of drug action within these clinical areas. This module will examine students’ ability to manage therapeutic intervention for the patient as a whole, including any co-morbid conditions.
• Students will re-examine aspects of law and ethics and, in particular, will engage with a range of ethical dilemmas.

Content

• This module is designed to examine various aspects of infectious disease, immunological disorders and cancer. Students have developed the skills to manage complex pharmaceutical interventions earlier in the programme and this module will challenge students to deal with complex, comorbid presentations. The module also covers important aspects of law and ethics and will challenge students to consider the material they are learning from the context of practising pharmacist. As with other modules outlines the various strands of material and been separated out for the purposes of clarity but will be delivered in an integrated manner.
• Students will be challenged throughout this module to consider the role of the pharmacist within each of the areas they are studying. They will be required to consider the pharmacist as a prescriber, a scientist, an educator, a public health worker and the main professional responsible for the safe use of medicines.
• We will build upon Levels 1 and 2 to examine various infectious diseases. We will include study of aetiology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of infection in broad terms as well as a discussion of the mechanisms of resistance to treatment. Infections studied will include tuberculosis, pneumonia, sinusitis, influenza, endocarditis, pericarditis, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, biliary infections, peritonitis, meningitis, encephalitis, prion disease, urinary tract infections, ocular infections, infection and infestations of the skin. We will also cover infectious disease in susceptible patients, septic shock and some aspects of tropical infections. Aspects of infection relating to community pharmacy and in particular the management of minor conditions with over-the-counter medicines will be discussed within each section.
• The treatment of infectious disease including non-pharmacological management will be covered in detail with all forms of treatment discussed. The development of antibiotics will be examined in terms of chemical structure and formulation as will other related issues such as adverse effect and resistance.
• Students will study the underpinning principles involved in oncogenesis and the aetiology and epidemiology of cancer, particularly focussing on tobacco and other carcinogens. We will then use specific carcinomas such as breast, gastric, lung, leukaemias, lymphomas, prostatic, bowel, skin, ovarian and cervical to illustrate the principles of oncology; other related metastases will be included, where appropriate. Support strategies required in the treatment of cancer will also be included as well palliative care.
• Immunological disorders — building on fundamental cell science delivered at Level 1 and 2; we will discuss allergy and hypersensitivity including common conditions such as allergic eczema, rhinitis and food allergy, transplantation & graft rejection, immunodeficiency including a focus on HIV and AIDS, and principles of immunotherapy. We will discuss aspects of vaccination from a mechanistic viewpoint but also in terms of public health management.
• In addition, applied clinical pharmacokinetics will accompany the above teaching, building on material delivered in previous levels focusing on pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenomic aspects of antimicrobial and anticancer chemotherapy as well as support therapy. Emphasis will also be given to novel drug delivery systems involving nanoparticle technology used to enhance absorption and target drugs to treat infectious disease, immunological disorders and cancer. Formulation aspects, preparation and characterisation of nanoparticles and the different nanocarriers e.g. liposomes and niosomes, will be studied with appropriate clinical examples for oral and intravenous use.
• We will examine aspects of drug targeting, particularly in the context of monoclonal antibodies and the application of biological therapeutics. We will continue study from lower levels around rational drug design using specific examples of drugs that have been successfully designed to address a specific problem such as the use of imatinib in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML).
• Students will be required to present the therapeutic rationale behind various treatment strategies in terms of the pharmacological action of drugs, current clinical evidence and also governmental and local guidelines. In the context of cancer and infection control, local variability will be discussed from a clinical and management point of view. We will make use of the various local specialists to give discursive support in the form of web casts to help student understand variability in treatment strategies. Students will focus on decision-making and on dealing with problems in the presence of unclear or incomplete information. We will expect students to have the depth knowledge in order to be able to critique decisions made by others and provide viable options.
• As with previous modules, students will learn various physical examination skills related to cancer and infection. These sessions will place the students in the role of community pharmacist, hospital pharmacist and other specialised roles, including those dealing with the manufacture of medicines.
• The module will include problem based learning sessions which will examine various aspects of the module in detail demanding that students apply the theoretical knowledge they have gained to the practical patient based scenario.

Learning Outcomes

• SSK17 - comprehensive knowledge relating to the principles of oncology and infectious disease including fundamental physical examination and treatment;
• SSK18 - critical understanding of the role of pharmacists, in all branches of the profession, including the laws and ethical issues relating to practice;
• SSK19 - conceptual understanding that enables the student to critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship in modern drug targeting, personalised medicine and management of barriers to drug absorption;
• SSK21 - integrated knowledge of the management of complex patient cases involving co-morbid disease states and multiple therapeutic interventions ;

• SSS16 - act autonomously and efficiently in the planning and implementation of responsibilities at a professional level;

• KS11 - confidence in dealing with complex issues, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences;

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching and learning strategies include lectures, seminars, which will include clinical skills problem-based learning sessions, practical classes and interprofessional education.
• Lectures will provide key information around various topics and will highlight important areas of research occurring within the Division and throughout the scientific community. Students will be expected to assimilate large amounts of information from lectures and apply that information elsewhere in the module.
• Practical work will include clinical skills sessions involving volunteer patients, other students and human simulators. These sessions will include aspects of law, ethics and supply. The remaining practical sessions will be problem-based, students will work in groups dealing with a number of complex problems from a range of practice-based areas.
• Seminars will provide an opportunity to examine an area in depth. Students will focus on decision-making and in particular on the critique of therapeutic choices. This will involve working within complex cases where patients will present with multiple comorbid disease requiring complex interventions. Students will be expected to demonstrate a breadth of understanding, including the role of other professionals involved in management.
• Interprofessional education sessions will concentrate on the management of working problems. Students will be expected to adopt the role of a pharmacist working within a team and will be required to demonstrate both breadth and depth of understanding as would be the case in practice. The focus will be safe, legal and effective use of medicines.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Group presentations of PBL

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University