PHARM 3068 - Computational Systems Pharmacology (PSP I)
This course will teach the fundamentals of computational systems pharmacology (CSP) modeling and their applications to study drug actions and rational development of new drugs through network analysis. Theoretical concepts pertaining to computational systems pharmacology, such as drug target identification and rational drug design, will be taught. The course also includes hands-on training with the mainstream systems analysis and computer-aided drug design software, such as Simbiology of Matlab, Tetrad, Schrodinger, etc.
PHARM 3069 - Pharmacometrics (PSP II)
This course will provide training in the fundermentals of pharmacometrics & pharmacology modeling and their applications to study drug actions through multiscale modeling and simulations [mechanism-driven] and data analysis [data-driven]. Theoretical concepts pertaining to PSP, such as polulation pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (pop PK/pD) modeling both from mechanistic and statistical points of veiw, physiologically-based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) data analysis, will be taught. The course covers the advanced pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) topics, such as drug-drug interactions, disease progression, as well as multi-scaling PK/PD modeling of drug actions on selected diseases, including cancers and type 2 diabetes. The course also offers hands-on training on using mainstream population PK/PD and PBPK modeling and simulation software, including NONMEM and SimCYP.
PHARM 3045 - Advanced Statistics Methods
This course is designed to teach graduate students advanced statistical methods of data analysis. Where appropriate and consistent with the students’ educational background, theoretical foundations for statistical methods will be discussed. Students will obtain skills necessary to analyze complex data sets and to identify and apply methods appropriate for solving statistical problems presented during class sessions, in homework assignments, and in exams. Dr. Wang teaches two lectures on this course covering statistics methods on data dimension reduction and feature selection, and mainstream machine learning methods and their applications on classification.
PHARM 3002 - Advanced Pharmacokinetics
Advanced Pharmacokinetics provides a comprehensive, systematic review of fundamental and advanced concepts in pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) using a ‘hands-on’ approach. The course provides a conceptual and quantitative background in PK and PD theory and applications needed to pursue clinical-translational PK-PD studies. Emphasis will be placed on understanding advanced, clinically applicable PK principles and the assumptions that are involved with their use. Dr. Wang teaches three lectures on this course covering basic knowledge on physiologically-based PK modeling, hands-on practice with Cetara’s software, Simcyp is provided.
PRINCIPLES OF DRUG ACTION Pharm 5118 - PRINCIPLES OF DRUG ACTION
This course is designed to provide student pharmacists with a working knowledge and mastery in foundations of pharmacology, including concepts in medicinal chemistry, pharmacodynamics and clinical pharmacokinetics; areas relevant to the practice of pharmacy. This course serves to introduce student pharmacists with the basic concepts and methods used in determining drug action, drug development, and the application of these concepts to the treatment of patients. In the first professional year (P1), Principles of Drug Action serves as a bridge between physiology and biochemistry. The pharmacological principles presented in this course also serve as a foundation for drug action in the therapeutic modules in the P2 and P3 years. Basic principles of pharmaceutical calculations are introduced during lectures and practicum sessions. Solving pharmaceutical calculation problems will be carried through the P1 to the P3 year. Link: https://mulan.pharmacy.pitt.edu/group/courses/5118
Simcyp Software Learning Workshop
Motivated to help these students (and all others who were interested in learning) to master the basic knowledge and skills required by their research projects and the PSP: Pharmacometrics course, I have organized a Simcyp software learning workshop. The workshop is held once a week for 12 weeks and each session lasts about 2 hours. The workshop adopts the “You teach me and I teach you” format. During each session, three students present the slides assigned to them, followed by demonstration/hands-on sections on using the Simcyp software.