Academic Calendar - 2025
Western University Academic Calendar. - 2025
Physiology and Pharmacology
Physiology and Pharmacology 2000 INTRODUCTION TO THE INTEGRATION OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
Students will study the physiological processes and pharmacological treatments of nerve, muscle, central nervous system, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive and gastrointestinal control systems as they function in living humans, under both healthy and diseased conditions.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours/week. Recommended background: any 1000-level course in biology, and any 1000-level course in chemistry.
Course Weight: 1.00
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A laboratory course that introduces students to research techniques, methodologies, data analysis and scientific communication. Students will select different experiments covering the major systems in the human body and examine them from a physiological or pharmacological perspective. This course is intended for students interested in physiology and/or pharmacology.
Antirequisite(s): Medical Sciences 3990E.
Prerequisite(s): Biochemistry 2280A; and registration in either a Major or Honours Specialization module offered by the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology or in the Honours Specialization in Biochemistry and Cancer Biology. Pre-or Corequisite(s): Either Physiology 3120 or Pharmacology 3620 (Physiology 3120 is strongly recommended).
Extra Information: 3 lecture/laboratory hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This course will cover gastrointestinal secretion, motility, digestion, absorption, hepatic and pancreatic physiology. Specific areas will include: gut-brain-liver axis and nutrient metabolism, exocrine and endocrine pancreas, liver and lipid metabolism. Relevant pathologies and disease states, including obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome along with current therapeutic strategies will be covered.
Antirequisite(s): the former Pharmacology 4100A/B, Physiology 4100A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology 3120.
Extra Information: Blended course. 2 hours (lecture or equivalent online delivery plus in-person discussion).
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course examines the use of traditional and emerging models to study developmental and disease processes. From transgenic mice, to CRISPR-Cas9, to rapid screening of drugs for pharmaceutical testing, the understanding of how model systems can be utilized in the sciences to evaluate developmental and environmental disorders will be explored.
Antirequisite(s): The former Physiology 4640A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology 3140A.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course will provide an overview of the development and biology of skeletal tissues, introduce current techniques used to study skeletal physiology and examine the biological bases of common musculoskeletal diseases and their treatments.
Antirequisite(s): The former Physiology 4530A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology 3120, Physiology 3140A and Physiology and Pharmacology 3000E; or Physiology 3120 (with a mark of at least 75%) and Physiology 3140A.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Students will investigate the neurobiology of aging. Topics include causes of brain aging; comparing pathological versus normal brain aging; reviewing current models of origins and progression of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s; examining translational work in non-human models; and discuss the future of biomarkers and treatments for age related diseases.
Prerequisite(s): (Either Physiology 3120 or Pharmacology 3620, and one of Physiology 3140A or Biology 3316A/B) or (Neuroscience 2000 and Physiology 3140A and registration in Year 4 of an Honours Specialization in Neuroscience).
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores modern drug discovery strategies that integrate cutting-edge molecular, structural, chemical, and computational biology approaches. Students will explore key drug targets and targeted therapeutic interventions across various diseases, tracing the transformative path from scientific idea to life-saving medical treatments.
Antirequisite(s): The former Pharmacology 4620A/B.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Topic(s) will reflect an area of interest in Physiology and Pharmacology, and may vary each year. Prior to registration, check with the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology for the selected topic.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology 3120 or Pharmacology 3620.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A major research project in Physiology or Pharmacology which emphasizes experimental design, instrumentation, data collection and analyses, and communication of experimental results by written, oral, and poster presentations. Students will select a research project from options provided by the department and be matched to a supervisor.
Antirequisite(s): Anatomy and Cell Biology 4985E, Biochemistry 4484E, Biochemistry 4985E, Epidemiology and Biostatistics 4900E, Epidemiology and Biostatistics 4985E, Medical Bioinformatics 4985E, Medical Biophysics 4985E, Medical Sciences 4990E, Microbiology and Immunology 4985E, One Health 4985E, Pathology 4985E, the former Anatomy and Cell Biology 4480E, the former Biochemistry 4483E, the former Chemical Biology 4500E, the former Medical Bioinformatics 4980E, the former Medical Biophysics 4970E, the former Medical Biophysics 4971E, the former Microbiology and Immunology 4970E, the former One Health 4980E, the former Pathology 4980E, the former Physiology and Pharmacology 4980E.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology and Pharmacology 3000E, Physiology 3120, and Physiology 3140A; and registration in Year 4 of an Honours Specialization offered by the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology.
Corequisite(s): Physiology and Pharmacology 4986Y.
Extra Information: 15 hours per week.
Course Weight: 1.00
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A skills development course which emphasizes research literacy, professionalism and team building, research ethics, critical thinking, communication, data analysis, and dissemination. Attendance at Physiology and Pharmacology department seminars is expected.
Prerequisite(s): Registration in Year 4 of an Honours Specialization offered by the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology.
Corequisite(s): Physiology and Pharmacology 4985E.
Extra Information: 3 hours per week.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Physiology and Pharmacology
Physiology and Pharmacology 2000 INTRODUCTION TO THE INTEGRATION OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
Students will study the physiological processes and pharmacological treatments of nerve, muscle, central nervous system, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive and gastrointestinal control systems as they function in living humans, under both healthy and diseased conditions.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours/week. Recommended background: any 1000-level course in biology, and any 1000-level course in chemistry.
Course Weight: 1.00
Return to top
A laboratory course that introduces students to research techniques, methodologies, data analysis and scientific communication. Students will select different experiments covering the major systems in the human body and examine them from a physiological or pharmacological perspective. This course is intended for students interested in physiology and/or pharmacology.
Antirequisite(s): Medical Sciences 3990E.
Prerequisite(s): Biochemistry 2280A; and registration in either a Major or Honours Specialization module offered by the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology or in the Honours Specialization in Biochemistry and Cancer Biology. Pre-or Corequisite(s): Either Physiology 3120 or Pharmacology 3620 (Physiology 3120 is strongly recommended).
Extra Information: 3 lecture/laboratory hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
Return to top
This course will cover gastrointestinal secretion, motility, digestion, absorption, hepatic and pancreatic physiology. Specific areas will include: gut-brain-liver axis and nutrient metabolism, exocrine and endocrine pancreas, liver and lipid metabolism. Relevant pathologies and disease states, including obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome along with current therapeutic strategies will be covered.
Antirequisite(s): the former Pharmacology 4100A/B, Physiology 4100A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology 3120.
Extra Information: Blended course. 2 hours (lecture or equivalent online delivery plus in-person discussion).
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
This course examines the use of traditional and emerging models to study developmental and disease processes. From transgenic mice, to CRISPR-Cas9, to rapid screening of drugs for pharmaceutical testing, the understanding of how model systems can be utilized in the sciences to evaluate developmental and environmental disorders will be explored.
Antirequisite(s): The former Physiology 4640A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology 3140A.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
This course will provide an overview of the development and biology of skeletal tissues, introduce current techniques used to study skeletal physiology and examine the biological bases of common musculoskeletal diseases and their treatments.
Antirequisite(s): The former Physiology 4530A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology 3120, Physiology 3140A and Physiology and Pharmacology 3000E; or Physiology 3120 (with a mark of at least 75%) and Physiology 3140A.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
Students will investigate the neurobiology of aging. Topics include causes of brain aging; comparing pathological versus normal brain aging; reviewing current models of origins and progression of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s; examining translational work in non-human models; and discuss the future of biomarkers and treatments for age related diseases.
Prerequisite(s): (Either Physiology 3120 or Pharmacology 3620, and one of Physiology 3140A or Biology 3316A/B) or (Neuroscience 2000 and Physiology 3140A and registration in Year 4 of an Honours Specialization in Neuroscience).
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
This course explores modern drug discovery strategies that integrate cutting-edge molecular, structural, chemical, and computational biology approaches. Students will explore key drug targets and targeted therapeutic interventions across various diseases, tracing the transformative path from scientific idea to life-saving medical treatments.
Antirequisite(s): The former Pharmacology 4620A/B.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
Topic(s) will reflect an area of interest in Physiology and Pharmacology, and may vary each year. Prior to registration, check with the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology for the selected topic.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology 3120 or Pharmacology 3620.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
A major research project in Physiology or Pharmacology which emphasizes experimental design, instrumentation, data collection and analyses, and communication of experimental results by written, oral, and poster presentations. Students will select a research project from options provided by the department and be matched to a supervisor.
Antirequisite(s): Anatomy and Cell Biology 4985E, Biochemistry 4484E, Biochemistry 4985E, Epidemiology and Biostatistics 4900E, Epidemiology and Biostatistics 4985E, Medical Bioinformatics 4985E, Medical Biophysics 4985E, Medical Sciences 4990E, Microbiology and Immunology 4985E, One Health 4985E, Pathology 4985E, the former Anatomy and Cell Biology 4480E, the former Biochemistry 4483E, the former Chemical Biology 4500E, the former Medical Bioinformatics 4980E, the former Medical Biophysics 4970E, the former Medical Biophysics 4971E, the former Microbiology and Immunology 4970E, the former One Health 4980E, the former Pathology 4980E, the former Physiology and Pharmacology 4980E.
Prerequisite(s): Physiology and Pharmacology 3000E, Physiology 3120, and Physiology 3140A; and registration in Year 4 of an Honours Specialization offered by the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology.
Corequisite(s): Physiology and Pharmacology 4986Y.
Extra Information: 15 hours per week.
Course Weight: 1.00
Return to top
A skills development course which emphasizes research literacy, professionalism and team building, research ethics, critical thinking, communication, data analysis, and dissemination. Attendance at Physiology and Pharmacology department seminars is expected.
Prerequisite(s): Registration in Year 4 of an Honours Specialization offered by the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology.
Corequisite(s): Physiology and Pharmacology 4985E.
Extra Information: 3 hours per week.