Medical Pharmacology

Primum non nocere

Doctoral degree programme, full-time study mode, Czech, 4 years 
Doctoral degree programme, combined form, Czech, 4 years 
Doctoral degree programme, full-time study mode, English, 4 years 
Doctoral degree programme, combined form, English, 4 years 
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The aim of the study programme is to educate pharmacology professionals who are able to work independently in experimental, translation, reverse-translational, or applied clinical research and as lecturers in the field and whose doctoral dissertation findings are published in journals included in journal databases and presented at academic forums and events.

Applicants must have completed Master’s degree in fields related to pharmacological research at a medical, pharmaceutical, or veterinary faculty or in the following study programmes: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Psychology, or Zoology (students who have completed one of these four study programmes are required to broaden their education and pass an exam in human pathological physiology).

Suggested doctoral dissertation topics:

Determination of expression of the brain neurotransmitter receptors in an animal model of addiction to psychotropic substances

Changes in the receptor systems of the brain under the influence of dependence-causing substances

Reactivity of brain neurotransmitter systems to selected antidepressants

Effects of selected antipsychotics in behavioural animal models

Effects of cannabinoid system ligands in animal models in vivo

Effects of modulators of activity of the endocannabinoid system in animal models in vivo

The role of glutamatergic system in animal models of comorbidity of depression and drug dependence

The impact of genetic polymorphism of cytochromes P450 in pharmacotherapy

Modulation of the cytochrome P450 function and the endocannabinoid system

The influence of pharmacokinetic factors on the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy including therapeutic drug monitoring

Pharmacoeconomics, Evaluation of health technologies, e-Health

Drug regulation in clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, pricing and reimbursement of medicines

Research in the area of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products with special focus on somatic cell therapy

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After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

  • Work as an independent professional and researcher in medical pharmacology and related biomedical fields.
  • Apply for grants to national as well as international grant agencies.
  • Publish his/her results in international impacted journals.
  • Present the results of his/her work at international conferences.
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Graduates of the doctoral degree programme find employment as scientists and researchers in biomedicine and, more specifically, pharmacology.

Graduates can also work as lecturers in pharmacology and related field or at various positions (especially research, development, and consulting) within the pharmaceutical industry.

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By the end of the first year of their PhD studies, students present the theses of their doctoral dissertations to the board for doctoral studies and other students and academic staff of the Department of Pharmacology, working together with their supervisor. The board discusses the theses and research project with the student and may suggest methodical changes in the project.

During the course of their studies, students present the partial findings of their dissertation at conferences in the Czech Republic as well as abroad (and submit applications for financial support at the MU Faculty of Medicine or to other available sources of funding). With the support of their supervisors, students also apply for internship grants that are relevant for their dissertation research.

By the end of the second year of their PhD studies, students submit a manuscript of paper that they have written (review papers are also accepted) to their supervisors and the board for doctoral studies before submitting it for publication in an academic journal (as a minimum a peer-reviewed Czech or Slovak academic journal).

Students need to submit their experimental research findings, to be published in a journal with impact factor, to the board for doctoral studies in Medical Pharmacology no later than in the fourth year of their studies.

To be approved for defence by the board, the dissertation needs to include original research findings that have been accepted for publication in an academic journal with impact factor and the doctoral student must have published at least one such original paper as the lead author.

If a student fails to adhere to the schedule guidelines described above, the board will discuss the situation with his/her supervisor and recommend that the student terminates his/her studies in the Medical Pharmacology doctoral study programme.

Doctoral students are also required to teach Pharmacology to younger students of various programmes at the Faculty of Medicine (in accordance with MU Study Regulations).

Courses included in the study plan for doctoral studies:

Required courses:

Pharmacology

English Language (see also below: DSAJz01 – Elective common subjects and courses at the Faculty of Medicine)

Selective courses (students must enrol in 3 or more selective courses):

Neuropsychopharmacology

Behavioral Pharmacology

Animal Models of CNS Disorders

Biochemistry

Xenobiochemistry

Specialized Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacoeconomics

Elective common subjects and courses at the Faculty of Medicine:

(Students must enrol in 5 or more elective courses. Further details, including course abstracts, lecturers, schedule, and recommended literature, are available at the MU Faculty of Medicine official website: http://www.med.muni.cz/index.php?id=124)

Molecular Biology and Genetics (DSMBz01)

New trends in pathophysiology (DSNTz01)

Trends in medical immunology (DSTIz01)

Analysis of clinical data (DSAK051 – course)

Ethics of Biomedical Research (DSETz01)

Rhetoric. The culture of interpersonal communication (DSREz01)

Acquisition of scientific information (DSVIz01 – course)

Planning, organization and evaluation of clinical trials (DSAM051 – course)

Computer network user (DSUP031 – course)

English language (DSAJz01; for students of Medical Pharmacology, this is a required course)

Publication of the results of students’ own original experimental work in a journal with impact factor (at least one paper where the student is listed as the first author).

Submission and successful defence of a doctoral dissertation.

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Based on the topic of their doctoral dissertations, PhD students work with experimental animals and use other required laboratory methods, first under the supervision of mentor(s) and later on their own.

With the support of their supervisors, students also apply for internship grants that are relevant for their dissertation research.

Based on their schedules and course plans, PhD students take part in teaching undergraduate students at the Faculty of Medicine.

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During the last year of their studies, PhD students must complete and defend their doctoral dissertations.

Requirements for the State Doctoral Examination in Pharmacology:

At the oral state examination, students must show sufficient knowledge of modern pharmacology (based on the list of recommended literature) to an examination board with at least five members, comprised of experts from MU and at least two members from other institutions.

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Field of study specifications

Field of Study: Medical Pharmacology
Abbreviation: LFAR
Code: 5103V025
Type: doctoral degree programme
Degree: Ph.D.
Accreditation: to 31/12/2024
Programme: P5157 D-FA4 Medical Pharmacology (4-years)
Faculty of Medicine
Field of study guaranteed by:
Faculty of Medicine