Lab Rotation (PHTO 6022)
The objectives of this course are to acquaint students with the research activities of individual faculty members and to assist students in choosing their areas of specialization. The faculty member and student will design a research project and work
out a time schedule committing the student to three to 24 hours per week in the laboratory. The student will prepare an abstract describing the objectives and methodology of the study and then conduct the study under the faculty member's supervision.
A final report stating the methods, results, interpretation, problems encountered, and suggestions for future research will be required. In addition to carrying out the research proposal the student will be expected to gain a knowledge of the current
literature relevant to the project. Grading will be based on the student's laboratory performance, final written report, and an oral presentation of the project. Grading will be A, B, C, F. Normally, a student entering the program without an advanced
degree will be required to complete 12 hours of credit with a grade of B or better prior to gaining admission to candidacy. Individual requirements may vary depending on the research experience of the student.
Prerequisites: None
Terms
offered: I, II, III
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Laboratory 3 24
Capstone (PHTO 6094)
Description: This course is for students pursuing a Master’s degree and who are not doing a thesis or dissertation but instead are carrying out a project or capstone. The project/capstone consists of any of the following activities: i) Writing a
review paper on a topic that the student will select together with a mentor and/or a committee; ii) Writing a short research paper on a topic that the student will select together with a mentor and/or a committee; iii) Hands-on activity that would
result in generating/optimizing a protocol or establishing an assay; iv) Computational exercise around a well-defined scientific project that includes bioinformatics or data analysis; v) Internship in industry with written report. Grades are based
on a satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance.
Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: I,II,III
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Laboratory 3-6
Instructor: Laezza
Research (PHTO 6097)
Research on thesis or dissertation project under the direction of supervising professor. The research is graded as satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U).
Prerequisites: None
Term offered: I, II, III
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Laboratory 3 27
Thesis (PHTO 6098)
Formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the thesis for the Master of Science degree under the direction of the student's supervisory committee. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported
by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy
Terms offered: I, II, III
Year Offered: Annually
Dissertation (PHTO 6099)
Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy degree to enroll in this course. This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the dissertation for the Doctor
of Philosophy degree while under the direction of the student’s supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval
and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).
Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy
Terms offered: I, II, III
Year Offered: Annually
Hours per week: Variable 3-9
Addiction Sciences and Neurotherapeutics (PHTO 6120)
This course will provide an interactive work-group for trainees to discuss their research in addiction science with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty. Emphasis will be placed on therapeutic development and trainees will learn how to
approach existing projects with a therapeutic development prospective. Presentation formats will vary in scope and level of analysis, depending on the needs of the trainee. Examples of trainee presentation formats include: expansion of an existing
project for grant proposal development, and detailed discussion of data analysis and interpretation. Intermittently, faculty will present information on their research program to provide students with an overview of cutting-edge neuroscience and drug
discovery/development topics. Grades will be satisfactory/unsatisfactory based on in-class participation and presentations quality.
Prerequisites: None
Term offered: I, II
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: 1
Instructor:
Dr. Jonathan Hommel
Neuroaddicts Journal Club (PHTO 6121)
The Neuroaddicts Journal Club provides a more cohesive venue for trainees and exposes mentees to a wider range of neuroscience and addictions topics. The goals are for mentees to learn critical thinking of the published literature, the requirements and
construction of high quality manuscripts, and presentation skills. Within this environment, mentees have a prime opportunity to refine the ability to converse in both scientific and collegial domains, and become comfortable with asking questions and
thinking critical/constructively.
Prerequisites: None
Term offered: I, II
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: 1
Instructor: Dr. Noelle Anastasio
Advances in Mental Health Research (PHTO 6123)
This course will provide a solid understanding of current mental health research and promote understanding of factors advancing future groundbreaking mental health research. The course will have flexible format, including sessions where students discuss
relevant papers, present their own data, discuss a wide range of career-development issues, learn about pharmacotherapeutic development, learn advanced grant-writing principles, discuss relevant ethical issues, and learn advanced research techniques.
Attendance 50%, participation in classroom discussion 50%. A satisfactory grade requires a score of 80%.
Prerequisites: None
Term Offered: I, II, III
Year Offered: Annually
Hours Per Week: 2
Instructor: Dr. Thomas Green and Dr. Fernanda Laezza
Bioinformatics Tools and Applications (PHTO 6125)
The goal of the class is to introduce the students to the various bioinformatics tools available for the analysis DNA and RNA sequencing data. Students will be provided with an overview of the most common bioinformatics tasks they will face in the research.
During the class, students will have hands on experience performing analysis of the data generated by the variety of scientific instruments and bioinformatics tools addressing real-life clinical and scientific applications. The class will be divided
into three sections: pathogen detection, gene expression, and microbiome analysis. Students will be taught how to use public bioinformatics resources such as GeneBank, SRA, PATRIC, SILVa, and I2B2.
Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: III
Year offered: Annually
Hours Per Week: 1
Instructor: Dr. George Golovko
Environmental Toxicology Research Review (PHTO 6126)
This course begins in the Fall term and extends to the Spring term. It is an open discussion and presentation course, and will include monthly presentation of current literature papers, selected by the students, in consultation and development with the
Course Director, prior to each presentation. This will include: 1) the process of paper selection, 2) the review of potential auxiliary papers, and 3) distribution of the papers to the class participants. Using guidelines developed by the Course Director,
students will each present 1-2 papers from the current toxicology-relevant literature, in a semi-formal presentation venue, with an open discussion format. In this discussion time, presenting students will be responsible for the development and delivery
of presentation on their selected research paper(s). Areas required to be covered within the presentation are: 1) hypothesis, 2) methods and approach, 3) statistical analyses, 4) main finding(s), 5) appropriateness of overall conclusions, 6) strengths
and weaknesses of study, and 6) whether they would accept the paper for publication as is, or with modification(s), and what those modifications, if necessary, would be. Open discussion will include questioning the presenter about various important
aspects of the study being presented, including the hypothesis, experimental design, statistics, and results. Students register for the course in both terms. A grade of “G” (longitudinal) will be assigned at the end of the Fall term and
a single, 1-hour course grade will be assigned at the end of the Spring term. Grading will be based on paper presentation, participation in classroom discussion, and attendance.
Prerequisites: Permission of course director
Terms offered: I, II Longitudinal
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Lecture 2
Instructor: Ameredes
Physiology and Pharmacology of ion channel and receptor signaling (PHTO 6127)
This course provides a general background in cellular neuroscience with an emphasis on neuronal synaptic transmission. The first part of the course covers structure and molecular composition of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Topics covered include:
synaptic structure and dynamics, molecular composition of post-synaptic ligand-gated ion channels, metabotropic receptors, signal transduction pathways, functional analysis of postsynaptic currents, synaptic plasticity and neuronal homeostasis. The
second part of the course includes an in-depth reading and discussion of topics related to synaptic receptors mediating neuronal transmission in the central nervous system. This course will prepare students for upper level Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology
courses and is also suitable for students interested in basic cellular mechanisms underlying brain function. Grading is based on written midterm and final examinations. Grading will be on a Standard A-F basis.
Prerequisites: BBSC 6303 Biochemistry, BBSC 6302 Cell Biology, or consent of the instructor
Term offered: II
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: 1
Credit: 1
Instructor: Dr. Fernanda Laezza
Pharmacology & Toxicology Student Journal Club (PHTO 6190)
This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to practice formal presentation skills and discuss science. Students will select research articles from pharmacological journals for presentation to students and student groups. Each student
will present and discuss at least one paper per semester depending on the number of students enrolled in the course. Grades will be based on attendance and quality of presentation. Pharmacology students are required to be enrolled in this course every
term offered, except for the last term.
Prerequisites: None
Term Offered: I, II
Year Offered: Annually
Hours Per Week: Conference or Discussion 1
Instructor: Dr. Miriam Falzon
Seminar in Pharmacology & Toxicology (PHTO 6195)
Presentations by guest lecturers, staff, and students on the progress of their own research, as well as review of recent advances in pharmacology and toxicology. The course begins in the Fall term and extends over all 3 terms of the academic year. Students must register for it each term. A grade of “G” (in progress) will be assigned at the end of the Fall and Spring terms, and a single, 1-hour course grade will be assigned at the end of the Summer term. Students are to attend 15 PHTO seminars total, the Summer PHTO Graduate Symposium, and PHTO PhD preliminary exam presentations. Enrollment in this course is required every term except graduating term. Grading is Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
Prerequisites: None
Term offered: I, II, III Longitudinal
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Seminar 1
Instructor:
Dr. Kangling Zhang
Principles of Drug Action, Pharmacokinetics and Biotransformation (PHTO 6208)
This eight-week course will cover the principles underlying drug and toxin mechanisms of action, as well as their metabolism and clearance. In particular, we will focus on mechanisms underlying the interaction between hormone and neurotransmitter receptors
and full, partial, and inverse agonists, as well as analysis of the mechanisms underlying the actions of competitive, partially competitive and non-competitive inhibitors. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying allosteric modulation by drugs and
endogenous ligands will be discussed along with how receptor activation engages underlying effector mechanisms. The latter portion of the course will focus on the mechanisms underlying absorption, distribution, elimination and metabolism of both toxins
and therapeutic drugs. This will include metabolism by phase I and phase II enzymes, glutathione reductase, as well as drug elimination, duration of action, plateau principle, and continuous and intermittent dosing paradigms. The course will be taught
primarily in lecture format with discussion of primary research articles. Grading will be based on class participation, homework problems, two written exams and a 15-minute oral presentation covering the similarities and differences between a pair
of drugs that have similar therapeutic goals. Grading will be on a Standard A-F basis.
Prerequisites: PHTO 6302, Cell Biology and PHTO 6401 Biochemistry or consent of instructor
Terms offered: II,
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: 6
Synthetic Methods to Biomolecules (PHTO 6211)
Modern methods for the synthesis of biomolecules will be covered. Biomolecules include various natural products, unnatural amino acids, peptides, nucleotides, carbohydrates, bioactive small molecular chemical probes and drug candidates. The lecture topics
will include modern synthetic methods that are useful to access various biomolecules. These synthetic methods include but not limit to solid phase synthesis, combinatorial synthesis, and fundamental organic synthetic approaches such as reductions,
oxidations, functional group protections, carbon-carbon bond formation, asymmetric alkylation, asymmetric allylation, metal-halogen exchange, organolithium reagents, directed ortho metalation, Stille reaction, Suzuki reaction, Heck reaction, stereoselective
aldol reaction, olefination, asymmetric epoxidation and catalytic epoxide-opening reactions, asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction, olefin metathesis, synthetic methods for heterocyclic compounds, etc.
Prerequisites: Undergraduate Organic Chemistry
Term offered: II
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Lecture 2
Instructor: Dr. Jia Zhou
Endocrine, Chemotherapy, and Toxicology Pharmacolog (PHTO 6213)
Survey of Pharmacology course covering drugs that affect the endocrine system, drugs used in cancer chemotherapy, anti-parasitic drugs, drugs to treat gastrointestinal (GI) system, anti-dhistomines, anti-inflammatory drugs and an introduction to toxicology
and specific toxic agents.
Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: II
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Lecture 4
Instructor: Dr. Miriam Falzon
New Drug Development (PHTO 6219)
This course will provide a comprehensive overview of the drug discovery and development process, focusing on drug development science, regulation, and industry. Students will learn how promising new drugs are discovered, screened, and evaluated from the
standpoint of their safety and efficacy.
How drug commercialization decisions are made at each major phase in the drug development process. How information technology is used to increase drug development productivity as well as enhance
the commercial potential of drug candidates. Topics include: Molecules to medicines; Drug discovery, design, and screening; Early testing and Safety; Clinical research; Global drug review and approval, Trends and issues in pharmaceutical drug development;
Case history, etc. The course grade will be based on class participation (50%) and class project and presentation (50%).
Term offered: Summer
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Lecture, conference and discussion 4
Faculty:
Zhou, Staff
Neuropharmacology (PHTO 6223)
An eight week course meeting three times per week to present the principles of the study of drugs that influence neural systems. The format of the course will be a combination of faculty and student presentations and discussion. Grades will be based upon
two exams, a research paper, and a student presentation.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor or BBSC Core Curriculum
Term offered: I
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Lecture 4; Conference or Discussion 1; Laboratory
6
Intro Tox Risk Assessment (PHTO 6224)
The objective of this course is to provide a basic foundation on the toxicological risk assessment process. The course format is lecture-based with supplement from online materials and experiences, as well as practical application aligned with book chapter
commentary, and case studies. Students will be provided a risk assessment simulation exercise to experience and understand the risk assessment process. Within this course, students learn about: 1) the building blocks of risk assessment, 2) the risk
assessment process, 3) how risk assessment is applied and used in decision making scenarios, 4) current and emerging issues in risk assessment, and 5) the skills and professional resources available to those interested in risk assessment. After completing
the course, the student will be able to: 1) define and explain toxicological risk assessment, 2) comprehend the application of risk assessment, 3) demonstrate effective use of risk assessment technique, 4) demonstrate competent science and math skills
associated with risk assessment, 5) employ ethical principles in the application of risk assessment, 6) demonstrate the ability to work effectively in teams and in discussion-based format. Course performance grading will be standard letter grades,
based on exams, individual projects, class participation/discussion, and attendance.
Prerequisites: None
Term offered: I
Year offered: Even Years
Hours per week: 2
Instructor: Dr. Sol Bobst
Introduction of Regulation Toxicology (PHTO 6226)
The objective of this course is to provide a basic foundation in regulatory toxicology methods, requirements, and practical skills. The course format is a hybrid of online lectures and webinars supplemented with online materials as well as practical application
aligned with project examples. Students will be provided an opportunity to 1) learn the requirements for toxicology testing for pharmaceutical products and medical devices 2) learn the requirements for toxicology testing for food, cosmetics, industrial
chemicals, and consumer products 3) learn the background and application of publicly available toxicology databases, and how the data can be used for experimental and regulatory purposes, as well as a practical exercise using a database for a project
and focused outcome. Grading of course performance will be standard letter grades, based on exams, individual projects, class participation/discussion, and attendance.
Online discussions will be asynchronous with clear start times and deadlines for students to post to the discussion forum. Students are expected, at the minimum, to provide at least one initial post and one reply post for each weekly topic. Depending
on the course size, students may be asked to lead discussions for the week. The course instructor will set the course discussion question for the week and provide the journal club citation and pdf if necessary, though students will be encouraged to
use their library research skills when papers are available that way. At the end of the discussion week, students will be graded on their level of participation. The expectations for online discussions will be explained, along with a grading rubric
for the assignment of grades that is based on the quality and content of the online discussion postings. Lecture notes will also be available within Blackboard on a weekly basis, so that students have the course material available to them during the
week, and if they bring laptops to the course, they can use interactive tools on risk assessment during lectures or discussions to meet the applied learning objectives.
Prerequisites: Instructor or Director Approval
Term offered: II
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Lecture 2 Discussion
Instructor: Dr. Sol Bobst
ACC Pharmacology (PHTO 6312)
This fifteen-week course serves as an introduction to the cellular, biochemical, and molecular effects of pharmacological agents acting on the autonomic and central nervous systems as well as the cardiovascular and renal systems. Prior to detailed presentations
of the various classes of agents used to treat disorders of the aforementioned systems, the pertinent physiology of each system will be reviewed. The therapeutic use, mechanism of action, adverse effects, and absorption, distribution, and metabolism
will be emphasized for each pharmacological agent presented in class. This course will be graded on the basis of four in-class examinations.
Prerequisites: None
Term offered: I
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: 4.5
Instructor: Dr. Kenneth Johnson
Genome-Wide Analytical Technologies for Biomedical Research (PHTO 6318)
New developments in technologies such as proteomics, metabolomics, epigenetics, and molecular imaging are expanding our knowledge of the biological world at a rapid pace. These analytical approaches and expertise are accessible at UTMB. The student is
offered education in cutting-edge technologies for application in biomedicine. The course is a blend of lectures, literature seminars, and practical demonstrations of data acquisition and data analysis. At the end of the course, the student will be
able to identify and apply experimental strategies that best fit their biomedical experimental hypothesis. Grading: The examination will consist of a 5 page research proposal that describes the application of genome-wide technologies to a biomedical
hypothesis. The exam will effectively integrate the student's working knowledge of materials discussed in seminars, lectures and practical demonstrations.
Principles of Environmental Toxicology (PHTO 6319)
This course will be a graduate-level presentation of fundamental principles of environmental toxicology, including basic concepts like ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), mechanisms of toxicity and injury, inflammation and ROS,
overviews of discipline-specific toxicology (e.g., genetic toxicology, immunotoxicology, and toxicant-associated carcinogenesis), as well as organ-system-based toxicology covering major organ systems of the body (e.g., neurotoxicology, hepatotoxicology,
renal toxicology, cardiovascular toxicology, and respiratory toxicology), and including developmental toxicology. Grades will be calculated based on upon 2 mid-term and final in-class exams, and class attendance.
Prerequisites: None
Term offered: I
Year offered: Odd Years
Hours per week: 3
Instructor: Dr. Bill Ameredes