MEDSCI 715 : Molecular Toxicology

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Covers the current understanding of mechanisms implicated in toxicity of drugs and environmental chemicals plus the basis of inter-individual susceptibility. The course identifies strategies used to predict and prevent adverse reactions during drug development.

Course Overview

This course involves advanced study into the role of safety pharmacology in the drug development pipeline and the limitations of such testing that results in the toxicity of medicines. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

m.tingle@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles important to predicting adverse reactions to compounds, whether they be under development as a drug or through environmental exposure (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 8)
  2. Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of biological targets and the damage caused to such targets plus some of the ensuing changes at the level of organelle, cell, organ and organism (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Evaluate the relevance of non-clinical species to the prediction of human drug safety (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8)
  4. Apply scientific reasoning and methods to experimental design for assessment of chemical toxicity (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8)
  5. Apply critical evaluation to identify the essentials of scientific information in written reports and oral presentation (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 45% Individual Coursework
Final Assessment 40% Individual Coursework
Presentation 5% Individual Coursework
Coursework 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Essay
Final Assessment
Presentation
Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures and  2 hours of reading and thinking about the content per week and 102 hours of work on assignments and exam preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including student presentations to complete credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including student presentations will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All learning resources will be made available through CANVAS or the University library services

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Feedback from students included three key points:
Clear recognition of the value for student presentations
Whilst the final integrated assessment is seen as highly valued, the limited-time assignment is onerous in terms of time commitment
A desire to shift all of the assessment from the end of semester, with an early summative assessment to allow an indicator of understanding 
As a consequence, an additional assessment worth  10%  has been introduced, with a reduction in the time and worth of the final assessment. The marks for the integrated assignment have been separated out into written an oral components for clarity.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 12/10/2023 09:28 a.m.