Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, & Pharmacogenomics

Catalog description

This required course provides the fundamental principles of pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and pharmacogenomics (PGx). Students will explore how the body influences drug concentrations (PK) through the key biological processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), and how these processes affect drug efficacy and safety. The relationship between drug concentrations and pharmacologic response (PD) will be examined, with emphasis on individual and population variations in PK and PD. The course will also focus on how the genetic composition of an individual or population (PGx) impacts drug metabolism, transport, and receptor interactions. Students will learn how genetic differences alter PK/PD responses, potentially requiring dose adjustments, alternative drug selections, or personalized treatment strategies. The application of PK, PD, and PGx principles will be reinforced through PK calculations, dose optimization, and interpretation of PGx data to support personalized patient therapy.