Module Specification
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Cardiovascular and Respiratory Pharmacology
Code LIFE313
Coordinator Dr A Alfirevic
Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology
Ana.Alfirevic@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 6 FHEQ First Semester 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
LIFE206; LIFE207; LIFE231; LIFE234 None 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Linked Modules:
 

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 20

   3

     1

 24
Timetable (if known) This refers to timetabled lectures
  		  This refers to timetabled tutorials
  		    This refers to a timetabled group work session
  		 
Private Study 126
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Unseen Written Exam  2 hours  1  80  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 1 
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  1500 words  1  20  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 2 Notes (applying to all assessments) Assessment 1 will be a written examination. Assessment 2 will be in the form of a structured written exercise, part of which is presented as PowerPoint slides during one of the tutorials. The presentation is worth half of the marks for this assessment. 

Aims

  1. To provide students with the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular and respiratory pharmacology

  2. To develop in students an awareness of how dysfunction in these systems can be treated with current drugs, and how improved understanding can lead to improved drugs

  3. To raise awareness of the specific problems associated with drug side-effects in the cardiovascular system, and the approaches taken to test for these in drug development

Learning Outcomes

To critically discuss the pathophysiology of major cardiovascular and respiratory diseases

To appraise current knowledge of the mechanisms of action and side-effects of current drugs at the molecular, cellular, organ and systemic levels in health and disease
To discuss the latest understanding of principles underlying the development of new drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture -

This refers to timetabled lectures

Tutorial -

This refers to timetabled tutorials

Group Project -

This refers to a timetabled group work session


Syllabus
1 

Atherosclerosis and Lipid Lowering Therapy

Anticoagulants

Antithrombotics

Pharmacogenetics of cardiovascular medicine

Clinical Pharmacology of Heart Failure: Pathophysiology and Treatment

Treatment of Hypertension

Treatment of Ischaemic Heart Disease

Cardiac ion channels and action potentials

Mechanism of Arrhythmia and Antiarrhythmic Drugs (including QT Prolongation and Torsades de Pointes)

Vascular pharmacology and diseases affecting the vascular system

Adverse effects of the drugs on the heart and vascular system: cardiovascular toxicity

The normal lung and in-vivo dy namic testing of lung function

Asthma

Chronic airflow limitation

Drug-induced pulmonary dysfunction – molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology

Drug-induced pulmonary dysfunction – issues in clinical prediction, identification and treatment

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List: