Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
The Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics is one of the core Biomedical (preclinical) Departments of the Faculty of Health Science established in 2013 at the inception of the medical school. It is actively involved in the training of undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing health-related programs. These include a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Anesthesia, Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine, Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health, and Master of Public Health. Since Pharmacology is the “science of drugs” while therapeutics is the “art and science of treating patients”, the Department strives to equip its students with sufficient knowledge, skills, and competencies in basic and clinical pharmacology, toxicology, and therapeutics to ensure that the graduates can provide the expected standard of patient care both nationally and internationally. The department uses the problem-based learning (PBL) approach along with some lectures to teach the students. To reinforce learning, students are exposed to regular practicals, tutorial sessions, clinical exposures, grand rounds, and seminars. The Department is envisaging starting Bachelor of Pharmacy and Masters of Science in Pharmacology programmes. Currently, curriculum and infrastructure development are ongoing at the Department. The Department is actively undertaking research and innovation projects and is the mother Department of the Busitema University Natural Products Research and Innovation Centre (BUNaPRiC).
Mission
To train highly competent healthcare professionals and researchers with sufficient knowledge and skills regarding drug use in patient care and the environment for better medical practice, environmental conservation, and pharmaceutical industrial growth.
Objectives
- To train biomedical students in pharmacology and therapeutics that is relevant to their professional practice
- To generate and disseminate new knowledge regarding drugs and their metabolites in biological systems so as to improve medical practice and conserve the environment.
- To apply pharmacological knowledge and skills in solving health and environmental problems of the society so as contribute towards socio-economic transformation of the Eastern region.
- To create opportunities for the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Uganda through highly impacting and productive research outputs.
Staff Members
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Courses Taught in the faculty
MED 2203: Basic Pharmacology and Introduction to therapeutics
MED 3101: Central Nervous system, Neuro and Musculoskelal disorders
MED3102: Gastro-intestinal, Digestive and Nutritional Disorders
MED3103: Cardiovascular and Respiratory disorders
MED 3201: Urinary and Reproductive disorders
MED 3202: Endocrine and Metabolic disorders
MED3203: Infectious diseases
MED3204: Chemotherapy of microbial infections and cancer
MED 4101: Therapeutics
Teaching and learning facilities
The department has a well-equipped laboratory with modern equipment for training hands-on skills students as well conducting research by post-graduate students and staff members. We have a well-developed practical manual for undergraduate students that incorporates both online / e-practicals and hands-on sessions. We also leverage the state of the art equipment at our collaborating institutions to train our students in field and study tours. In addition to face-to-face sessions, we use the learning management system developed by the University to deliver online lectures to our students.
Research, Innovation, and community outreaches
In addition to teaching, the department is involved in the following research, innovation, and community outreach programs.
- PRESIDE project
Evaluation of the AntiSARS-COV-2 activity of selected medicinal plants and formulation of herbal products for the management of COVID-19. This project is funded by the Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE)
- VLIR project
Tracking and mapping antimicrobial resistance in Eastern Uganda” This a VLIRUOS (Belgium government) funded project between Busitema University and University of Antwerp, Belgium.
- IFS-TWAS- ICCBS project
The Department is also conducting research in drug discovery and development from medicinal plants against tuberculosis in collaboration with Kenya Medical Research Institute and International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences.
- COBERS outreach
Through the COBERS program of the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Department supervises and mentors both undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking research topics in Pharmacology related projects.
- Cancer awareness and management outreach program
In collaboration with the Uganda Cancer Institute, the Department organized a workshop about “Recent trends in cancer chemotherapy and management” at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in April 2019 and over 100 healthcare professionals were trained.
- AMS program
In January 2020, the Department organized a conference on “Antibiotic prescription practices and antibiotic resistance patterns in Eastern Uganda at Mbale and Soroti regional referral hospitals and 80 key stakeholders participated including District health officers and Hospital directors.
- BUNaPReG-NAPIANA program
Training of herbalists and traditional medicine practitioners in Eastern Uganda and standardization of herbal medicinal use in primary health care in collaboration with NAPIANA and NCRI
Our collaborators
- Secretariat of Science Technology and Innovation
- University of Free State South Africa
- Makerere Lung Institute
- Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)
- National Drug Authority (NDA)
- Natural Chemotherapeutic research Institute (NCRI)
- Makerere University Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
- Natural Products Industry Advancement Network Africa (NAPIANA)
- Uganda Pharmacological Society (UPharS)
- Directorate of Analytical Government Laboratories (DGAL)
- Mbale Clinical Research Institute (MCRI)