AUB - Basic Sciences Departments - Pharmacology and Toxicology

Pharmacology and Toxicology

The field of pharmacology embraces the knowledge of the history, source, physical and chemical properties, compounding, biochemical and physiological effects, mechanism of action, absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion, and therapeutic, diagnostic and preventive uses of drugs. The field of pharmacology also embraces the discipline of toxicology which deals with the toxicity of drugs used in therapy as well as toxicity of industrial, agricultural and environmental chemicals

Mission
The mission of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is summarized in the following objectives:

Acquiring new knowledge in pharmacology and related basic sciences by conducting innovative research. The final aim of this research is to understand the mechanisms of action of drugs, and to establish the safe and effective use of medications in humans
Transmission of knowledge to nursing, medical and graduate students through teaching. The purpose of teaching is to impart relevant information to the students in a manner that allows them to develop their analytical and intellectual capabilities, thus instructing them in the methods by which knowledge is acquired, with emphasis on self reliance and continued self education
Participation in the running of the Faculty and University through assuming administrative responsibilities and joining Faculty and University committees
Contribution to the progress of our society through offering expert advice to, and participating in, government and community organizations or activities related to pharmacology and drugs in general

History
From the date of inception of the School of Medicine, now known as the Faculty of Medicine in 1867, and until 1925, no basic science departments existed. Instead, the medical sciences, which are traditionally the academic disciplines under the auspices of specialized basic science departments, such as anatomy –histology, biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology, were taught as courses by professors from other schools in the University or by practicing professors in various clinical disciplines, particularly surgery and medicine. Those professors had gathered whatever scanty information was available on any topic in the basic science disciplines and presented it in the form of a course considered a pre-requisite for what came later as clinical information and practice.

Biochemistry was taught for a long time by a chemist with essential focus on the chemistry of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Anatomy and physiology were taught by practicing physicians. Pharmacology was taught under the title of Materia Medica by a dermatologist. The Faculty of Medicine and its Basic Science departments owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Dr. St. John Ward (1880-1951), who was instrumental in creating the Basic Science departments, to use the words of Dr. Stanley Kerr an earlier eminent professor in the Basic Science departments.Dr. Ward joined the School of Medicine as professor of surgery and later served as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, which included four schools: Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Nursing. He was also the Director of the School of Medicine, and held these posts from 1925 until 1937. Following a year of furlough in the U.S.A. in 1925 and upon his return as Dean, he started a process of modernization of the School of Medicine, including the creation of the Basic Science departments. In the 1925-26 University catalogue one reads: “The School of Medicine patterned its course after the requirements of an acceptable Medical School, Class A, according to the standards of the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association. The entrance requirements are similar to those of the best medical schools in America.”

In 1930 a new medical building was constructed by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, given the name of Van Dyck Hall, to house the newly organized departments of Anatomy-Embryology, Histology and Neuroanatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. The teaching in pharmacology to medical students had historically included a course in basic pharmacology to the second year students and another of applied pharmacology or therapeutics at either the third or fourth year levels until 1950 when the teaching was consolidated into a main course of basic as well as applied pharmacology. It is interesting to note that as early as 1926, an elective course in research in pharmacology was provided to interested students, long before the discipline of pharmacology was consolidated into an autonomous department.

The faculty of the Department has included prominent professors across its history, including Walter Booth Adams (1924-29), Harold B.O. Holck (1929-34), Munir Kanaan (1933-1987), Otto Krayer (1934-1937) who later became Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School, James Oliver Pinkston (1937-1950) who became Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Director of the School of Medicine, George Fawaz ( 1950 -2005, Chairman 1950- 1984 ), Joseph Simaan (1960 until the present, Chairman 1984 until the present, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, 1978-1987 and 1994-2000), Nadim Cortas (1972-1985 and 1994 until the present, Dean Faculty of Medicine and Vice President of Medical Affairs 2000-2010) and Ramzi Sabra (1985-1987 and 1993 until the present, Assistant Dean for Research 2000-2006, and Assistant Dean of Medical Education 2006 until the present). Dr. Nathalie Zgheib joined the department in 2007.

(George Fawaz: Medicus, AUB publication, vol.15, 1983; AUB catalogues)

Faculty Members

Dr. Joseph Simaan, Chairperson

Dr. Nadim Cortas, Professor
Dr. Ramzi Sabra, Professor
Dr. Joseph Simaan, Professor
Dr. Nathalie Khoueiry Zgheib, Assistant Professor

Staff

Rana Ghali El-Ghoul, Research Assistant
Maya Akra Ismail, Research Assistant
Sophie Issa, Research Assistant
Ruwaydah Khattab Kabbani, Research Assistant
Michel Touma, Senior Technician
George Jabbour, Technician
Nahed Mogharbel Sinno, Assistant Technician

Graduate Program
The graduate program in pharmacology consists of 3 years of course and research work. During the first year, the student takes pre-requisite courses for pharmacology consisting of biochemistry and physiology courses. Pharmacology is taught during the second year as a formal course of 9 credits offered during the second semester and by participation in weekly seminars throughout the year. The third year is spent on a research project. Students who have gone through the program are expected to have learnt the basic principles of history, chemistry, mechanisms of action, biochemical and physiological effects, absorption and elimination, therapeutic uses and toxic effects of the major classes of drugs. In addition, the student will have gained experience in the art and science of research work, with particular emphasis on his/her ability to formulate hypotheses, design experiments to test them and analyze and present the results coherently using sound statistical methods, in the context of existing knowledge of the topic

Pre-requisites
A sound knowledge of physical and organic chemistry, zoology and botany, and mathematics is required. It is preferable that students take the following courses or their equivalents:

Biology 201, 202
Chemistry 201, 206, 211, 212, 210
Mathematics 201
Physics 204, 205, 206, 207

Core Courses
The minimal courses required for an M.S. degree in pharmacology are the following:

First Year

Physiology 310 General Physiology Cellular Mechanisms 3 credits
Physiology 300 Homeostasis 2 credits
Physiology 302 Cardiovascular Physiology 2 credits
Physiology 304 Metabolism 3 credits

Second Year

Faculty of Medicine 301 Introduction to Medical Literature 2 credits
Pharmacology 300 Pharmacology and Toxicology 9 credits

Third Year

Pharmacology 311 - 312 M.S. Thesis

Course Offerings

PHRM 240. 3 credits, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. (For undergraduate nursing students)
PHRM 228 - 300, 9 credits: Pharmacology and Toxicology. (For medicine and graduate students)
PHRM 303 - 304, 3 credits: Pharmacological Methods
PHRM 305 - 306, 3 credits: Enzymological Biossays
PHRM 307 - 308, 3 credits: Tutorial in Pharmacology
PHRM 309 - 310, 1 credit: Pharmacology Seminar
PHRM 311 - 312, 9 credits: MS Thesis
PHRM 260, (1- 2 months): Elective in pharmacology
PHRM 314, 3 credits: Advanced pharmacology and therapeutics (for graduate nursing students)

Research
The following research projects are being pursued

Development of tolerance to the pressor effect of ephedrine, the mechanism involved in the tolerance, the role of nitric oxide and the effect of the tolerance on directly-acting sympathomimetic amines like norepinephrine and indirectly-acting sympathomimetic amines like tyramine were explored in rats.
The mechanism of tolerance to the pressor effect of mephentermine and the role of nitric oxide in the tolerance were explored in rats. Modification of the pressor effect of norepinephrine and tyramine by mephentermine tolerance was also explored.
Interaction between ephedrine and mephentermine at uptake 1 in sympathetic nerve terminals and the role of nitric oxide in this interaction were explored in rat preparations.
The effect of nebivolol on the production of nitric oxide induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan in mice.
The role of angiotensin II type 2 receptors in vascular dysfunction induced by diabetes mellitus in rats.
The slow pressor effect of angiotensin II in diabetic rats.
Comparison of the influence of chronic treatment with losartan or captopril on vascular dysfunction in diabetic rats.
Effect of using Team Based Learning to teach pharmacology to second, third and fourth year students on their performance and satisfaction.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Ethnic Lebanese Arab Women with Breast Cancer.
The Role of Pharmacogenetics in the treatment of Acute Childhood Leukemia.
Role of Genetic Polymorphisms of Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Drug
Transporters in the Risk and Treatment of Breast Cancer and Non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma.

Teaching Activities

Teaching of pharmacology to the nursing students (undergraduate and graduate)
Teaching of pharmacology to the second year medical students
Sponsoring a graduate program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology
Teaching clinical pharmacology to third and fourth year medical students
Participation in the teaching of pharmacology and toxicology in other departments or faculties

Contact Us

Diana Tamari Sabbagh (DTS) Building - AUB, 3rd Floor - Room # 357
Telephone: 00961-1-350000 ext. 4840/1
Email: rsabra@aub.edu.lb