Pharmacology at the University of Melbourne
Head of Department: Professor Peter McIntyre
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The Department of Pharmacology is within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and is responsible for the teaching of undergraduate students of Dentistry, Medicine, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Science and Veterinary Science. Postgraduate research programs leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science are also offered. Members of the department are actively involved in research, particularly in the pharmacology of the cardiovascular and central nervous system, respiratory pharmacology and molecular pharmacology. There is also a focus on information technology with development of multimedia teaching methods. There are strong links with the pharmaceutical industry via collaborative research programs. Research within the department attracts funding from industry and government.
Careers in Pharmacology
Pharmacology is an international science. Australian graduates of Pharmacology are employed in universities, research institutes and the pharmaceutical industry throughout the world.
Teaching and Research in Universities and Research Institutes
Graduates of Pharmacology ar employed in research programs in universities and research institutes under the leadership of senior investigators. Postgraduates are qualified to teach Pharmacology in tertiary institutions and to conduct independent research.
Government Departments within Australia
Many pharmacologists and toxicologists are employed in government departments and agencies such as Drug Information Services, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Toxicity Evaluation, and Chemicals Registration and Management.
Pharmaceutical Industry
The development of new therapeutic agents requires pharmacologists to work in research and development, regulatory affairs and marketing.
Undergraduate Courses in Pharmacology
Pharmacology is taught within a number of courses at the University
of Melbourne. The subjects in
Pharmacology introduce students to the unified study of the interaction of
chemical agents and living matter.
The emphasis is placed on the principles of drug action and on the reactions
of living processes to drugs.
Toxicology, a division of Pharmacology, is concerned with the adverse effects
on life of therapeutic drugs
and other chemicals. Toxicology is of increasing relevance to modern society.
Pharmacology 534-201
provides an introduction to the important concepts of Pharmacology and Toxicology
and may be taken to
provide the basis for more advanced studies in Pharmacology and Toxicology
at the 300-level or to
supplement a major study in another discipline.
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