MEDSCI 719 : Pharmacometrics
Medical and Health Sciences
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Pharmacometrics is the science of applying quantitative principles to interpret pharmacological observations. Specifically, pharmacometrics involves the use of mathematical and statistical models to quantify drug properties and physiological processes, usually with consideration of time. The science of pharmacometrics requires a theoretical understanding of pharmacology concepts as well as statistics and skills in coding and computer software. Pharmacometricians are involved in all parts of the development and clinical use pathway of pharmaceutical products, and have varied roles in regulatory, academic and industry.
The course is a mix of theory and practice. Students learn the fundamentals of modelling pharmacological processes using examples from pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in a small group environment. The methods taught have wide application in all areas of medical and biological science. This course would suit students with a good foundation in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and some experience in statistics. It involves computer-based analysis and so familiarity with software such as Excel and R (although not required) is useful.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Explain and apply key principles of pharmacology to describe pharmacological data in mathematical models (Capability 3 and 5)
- Design, implement and optimise models for observations of the time course of drug concentration and response (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Critique and evaluate their own models for simulation and parameter estimation (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Summarise an appropriate modelling procedure, outlining how this is driven by the aims of the analysis (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
- Articulate and critically examine findings in context of literature data and modelling results (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
- Actively engage and participate in class discussion on pharmacological theory and modelling methods (Capability 6 and 8)
- Demonstrate capability in using Excel and common simulation and modelling software used in pharmacometric analyses (Capability 3)
- Be able to identify and explain models that describe variability and how these relate to subjects, observations and model predictions (Capability 3)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Reports | 55% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignments | 35% | Individual Coursework |
| Presentation | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Reports | ||||||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Presentation | ||||||||||
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: 22 hours of workshops; 2 hours of laboratory work; 45 hours of reading and thinking about the content and the workshop material; and 81 hours of work on reports, assignments and/or presentation preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including workshops and the lab to complete components of the course.
Workshops will be available as recordings. The lab will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is not required for the assignment.
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.
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.
Course enrolments are typically too low for this course to qualify for SET however feedback directly from students and student reps (where appointed) is routinely sought, and valuable information on the learning resources and assessments acted upon. In 2024, the course did qualify for SET. Feedback showed that students gained new skills, found the content interesting and the use of new software challenging. Students felt one program in particular enhanced their learning and in response to that feedback, it will be continued as the main software in 2025.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.