OUR DEPARTMENTS
The School of Pharmacy is made up of six (6) departments with three (3) of them currently operational. These include;
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
The Department focuses on exposing students to the interactions of chemical substances with living systems, specifically the human system, understanding the properties of drugs and their actions, including the interactions between drug molecules and drug receptors and how these interactions elicit a therapeutic and/or adverse effects (such as; disturbances in growth patterns, discomfort, disease or death of individual organisms or on whole ecosystems) and means of preventing or ameliorating the adverse effects.
The courses taught examine the different classes of drugs, therapeutic uses, mechanisms of action, and regulations of these drugs by the human body, and societal value or impact. This will provide students the scientific basis and principles for a variety of special applications, such as the study of drug actions in the health sciences, the use of drugs as therapeutic agents in medicine or as tools in scientific research, and the development and regulation of pharmaceuticals. The exposure presents students with ideas or interest in subspecialties including clinical pharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, behavioural pharmacology, neuropharmacology, pharmacogenetics, pharmacoeconomics and toxicology .
Department of Pharmaceutics
INTRODUCTION
Pharmaceutics is the science of dosage form design. It is a discipline in Pharmacy that involves preparing compounds with beneficial pharmacological properties into medicinal products that can be used safely and effectively. Therefore, it involves all aspects of drug formulation and evaluation. New drug delivery systems are constantly being developed to improve the safety and efficacy of many therapeutic agents. Additionally, understanding the processes involved in drug release from dosage forms is important in product design. These factors as well as relevant aspects of commercial drug production are considered in the training of students.
The vision of the Department is to be innovative in providing student-centred education and collaborative opportunities for improved teaching, learning, and research activities.
COURSES TAUGHT
The Department is responsible for teaching the following courses during the first four years of the Doctor of Pharmacy programme: Introduction to Pharmacy, Dispensing, Physical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology, and Biopharmaceutics. Additionally, in the fourth year of the programme, students undertake various research projects that are supervised by faculty in the Department.
The postgraduate programmes of the Department are currently being developed and will include Master of Science, Master of Philosophy, and Doctor of Philosophy programmes in advanced aspects of Pharmaceutics.
RESEARCH FOCUS
The research interests of faculty in the Department include preformulation studies, pharmaceutical nanotechnology; development, characterisation, and testing of drug delivery systems for enhanced drug bioavailability; formulation, standardisation, and quality evaluation of herbal medicines, antibiotics, and antimalarial drugs; and solid-state pharmaceutics.
Department of Pharmacognosy
INTRODUCTION
Pharmacognosy is an interdisciplinary applied science which focuses on the study of physical, chemical, biochemical, pharmacological, toxicological and therapeutic properties of natural drugs, including drug discovery from natural sources such as preparations from plants, animals, microbes as well as minerals. This studies potential drugs or drug substances from natural sources which impact both human and animal health. Some branches of Pharmacognosy include Herbal Medicine, Phytomedicine, Phytotherapy, Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM), etc. Pharmacognosy is fundamental to the pharmacy curriculum and hence enjoys the reputation of being sophisticated and well-grounded in terms of research and other services to the society.
The Department of Pharmacognosy & Herbal medicine is a core component of the Pharmacy and was formed at the inception of the School of Pharmacy in 2016. The department was established under the leadership of Professor Theophilus Christian Fleischer (Foundation Dean of SoP) and currently headed by Professor Clement Adeleke Adebajo (a Visiting Professor from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria).
COURSES TAUGHT BY THE DEPARTMENT
To meet the requirements of the PharmD Programme, the department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal medicine has established a credible curriculum that factors all aspects of natural drug products (cultivation, evaluation, botany, phytochemistry, bioprospecting), herbal product development and standardization, drug discovery from natural products, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, dietary supplements.
Courses run by the department as part of PharmD Curriculum includes: Introduction Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Natural Drug Production and Evaluation, Phytopharmaceuticals and Plant Poisons, Advances in Complementary and Alternative Medicines, Veterinary Pharmacy and Agroceuticals, Evidence-Based Pharmacy Practice etc.
The lectures and laboratory practical sessions provide a comprehensive and up-to- date knowledge acquired in drugs of natural origin and skills in their study/ evaluation.
SCOPE
The department seeks to support the training of professionals by providing a standardized curriculum, enabling environment and student-centred approach to teaching. The growing demand for well trained personnel to undertake efficient herbal drugs standardization, discovery and public education on consumption of non-orthodox medicines underpins the scope of the department .
Core Competences in Pharmacognosy & Herbal Medicine
- Standardization of Herbal drugs/products
- Quality Evaluation of traditional herbal formulations
- Isolation and purification of phytoconstituents
- Biological screening of herbs/herbal/ traditional product
- Development of nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals
RESEARCH FOCUS
Research in the department currently focuses on phytochemical analysis, isolation and characterization of plant metabolites with promising pharmacological activities, standardization of medicinal plants, and herbal formulations etc. Therapeutic areas of interest generally include but not limited to; natural antimicrobial (anti-infectives e.g. Antimicrobial Resistance modulation studies), antiprotozoal (antimalarial, anthelminthic, antileishmanial) anti-inflammatory and wound healing, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, anti-asthmatic, cytotoxic agents etc.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
ABOUT DEPARTMENT
The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry is one of the six departments in the School of Pharmacy. It seeks to distinguish itself both nationally and internationally by leading the way toward effective global health care through innovative and successful teaching experiences for both undergraduate and graduate levels, advancing research and practice, promoting strong cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary collaboration both within and beyond the university and merging true entrepreneurial spirit with care and compassion, through innovative problem-based learning, rich experiential curriculum, and inter-professional collaboration. The Department exist to advance the course of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, which is a core discipline within the pharmaceutical sciences. It also aims to prepare professional degree (PharmD) students to provide compassionate pharmacist-delivered patient care, and inspire our students. The Department foster a community of scholars who will further the body of knowledge in pharmaceutical, biomedical, and health sciences. It also strives to improve quality of life locally, nationally, and globally.
EDUCATION and TRAINING
Since its inception, the Department has been teaching various required modules in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and related subjects, as part of the Pharmaceutical Science package for the Doctor of Pharmacy programme in the School. Ultimately, students after taking these modules, are able to apply their knowledge of the fundamental concepts and principles in organic, inorganic, physical, medicinal, analytical chemistry and quality assurance to pharmaceuticals and then relate these concepts to drug design, synthesis and usage in the practice of pharmacy. The Department expects that the coverage of various areas of pharmaceutical chemistry would give students the necessary background and foundation to apply this knowledge in the study of related disciplines such as pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, biochemistry and clinical pharmacy. Without prejudice to the above, the modules covered in the undergraduate levels include foundational chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry and medicinal chemistry.
The department is in the process of mounting M.Sc., M.Phil and PhD programmes in Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control, Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance and Drug Regulatory Science, Medicinal and Natural Product Chemistry with the aim of developing vital human resource capable of addressing challenges encountered in the pharmaceutical industrial sector and academia through training and research.
RESEARCH
The Department is involved in the Development of Analytical Methods to assess quality of Pharmaceuticals, Herbal and Food products using Chromatographic and Spectroscopic techniques, Development and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Quality Management Systems, Synthesis of novel bioactive compounds via ‘Click Chemistry’, Isolation, Characterisation and Structural modification of biomarkers from plant sources, in addition to the characterisation of bioactive isolates from plants using Spectroscopic analysis including UV-Visible, IR, NMR both proton and C13 NMR, Mass Spec, HMBC, COSY, DEPT etc,.
Department of Pharmacy Practice
INTRODUCTION
Pharmacy Practice is a discipline of pharmacy which involves developing the professional roles of pharmacists .These roles include dispensing of prescription, Communicating to patients and Prescribers, managing medications and other cadre of staff within the pharmacy set up, educating other health care providers, health promotion, immunization, health screening among many others.
Pharmacy practice builds upon the other applied or pure sciences in the other departments in the School of Pharmacy. There are studies and practical applications in the Pharmacy communication and Patient counselling, Pathophysiology, Therapeutics and Pharmaceutical care.
The Department of Pharmacy Practice is one of six academic departments within the School of Pharmacy and is geographically located on the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Sokode campus. The Department is an interdisciplinary department with faculty engaged in scholarship, practice and teaching across disciplines encompassing clinical, basic, and social sciences.
Our faculty is dedicated to continuously improving interdisciplinary pharmaceutical care education, research and practice.
The department was established in 2016 during the inception of the School of Pharmacy under the leadership of the Prof. Theophilus Christian Fleischer (Foundation Dean SOP) and Currently headed by Ms. Thelma Mpoku Alalbila (A Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists).
COURSES TAUGHT BY THE DEPARTMENT
The department has established a credible curriculum to meet the Pharm.D requirements that factors all aspects of Pharmacy Practice in Patient Counselling, Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, Pharmaceutical care and Management and leadership.
The courses taught are Sociology for Pharmacy, Pharmacy Communication and Patient Counselling, Health Psychology, Pharmacy Practice , Biostatistics and Research Methods, Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, Pharmacoeconomics, Pharmacy Jurisprudence, Pharmacoepidemiology, Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Evidence based Pharmacy, Advanced Pharmacy Practice, Public Health and Management and Leadership.
SCOPE
The department aims at supporting the training of health Professionals by providing a practical oriented curriculum,Team Based Learning, Problem Based Learning, Hospital clinical rotation,Community Pharmacy rotation and Patient centred learning. There is a lot of emphasis on exposure to the practice settings.
RESEARCH FOCUS
Research in the department currently focuses on Endocrine Pharmaceutical care with emphasis on Diabetes Mellitus,Cardiovascular Pharmaceutical care with emphasis on Hypertension,Peptic Ulcer Disease,Antimicrobial resistance,Pharmacovigilance,Tuberculosis,HIV and Malaria etc
Core competencies of faculty in the Department are
- Endocrine Pharmaceutical care
- Cardiovascular Pharmaceutical care
- Renal pharmaceutical care
- Pharmacovigilance
- Infectious disease
COLLABORATIONS
The Department currently collaborates with all the other five departments in the school of Pharmacy.This is with regard to teaching and learning,research and community Service.
We are collaborating with Pharmaceutical Microbiology on a grant on Antimicrobial Stewarship.
The department is also collaborating with other department in other schools including the department of psychiatry in the School of Medicine and department of nutrition and dietetics in School of Allied Health Sciences.
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology
INTRODUCTION
The Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology is a department within the School of Pharmacy. The department is made up of enthusiastic staff with world-class training and experience. The department occasionally engages the services of academics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and University of Ghana, Legon as well as industry experts to equip students with top-notch training.
The department introduces students to Pharmaceutical Microbiology which is an applied branch of microbiology and a core discipline within the pharmaceutical sciences. Students are trained on Quality Control and Quality Assurance in relation to the pharmaceutical industry, based on current government regulations. Students acquire knowledge on the application of microbiological principles in industrial pharmaceutical production, research, and community and hospital pharmacy.
COURSES TAUGHT BY THE DEPARTMENT
Courses taught by the department as part of PharmD Curriculum include Introduction to Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Immunology, Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, and Chemotherapy.
Some of these courses have a practical element that equips students with the relevant hands-on skills. Students perform these laboratory procedures while practising safe, aseptic laboratory techniques.
RESEARCH FOCUS
The research interests in the department include:
- Genomics of bacterial pathogens
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Role of the human microbiome in health and disease
- Pharmacomicrobiomics
- Molecular epidemiology of antibiotic resistance
- Antibiotic stewardship policy formulation and implementation by developing countries
- Investigation into natural sources (medicinal plants and microorganisms) for anti-infective agents
- Probiotics
