Pharmacology Overview

Pharmacology is the fascinating science of drugs. This includes the study of drug effects in biological systems, the determination of the mechanisms by which drugs produce their effects, and optimization of therapeutic regimens. An understanding of the nature of drug action and the vulnerability of living systems to alterations by chemicals serves as the basis on which new therapeutic agents are developed and toxic consequences of chemical exposure are alleviated. Since drugs are chemical substances that modify biological or physiological processes, pharmacology involves many diverse and inter-related scientific disciplines. These include chemistry, biochemistry, pathophysiology, cellular and molecular biology, and others.

Pharmacology is a diverse and interdisciplinary field that ranges from the design and evaluation of drug effects at the cellular and subcellular levels (biochemical and molecular pharmacology) to the study of drug effects in intact animal models and in humans (experimental and clinical pharmacology). Exciting opportunities exist in this field! A variety of careers are available to people trained in pharmacology or toxicology. These include faculty positions at universities and colleges, research and management positions in the pharmaceutical industry (both large established companies and small start-up organizations), and careers in government regulatory agencies.