Careers in Pharmacology

To be a pharmacologist requires a solid knowledge of the biological sciences, and also of mathematics, chemistry, and many aspects of medicine. The techniques and methods of investigation employed by pharmacologists are those used in biological and physical sciences.

Qualified pharmacologists may find employment in universities, large hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, and government agencies, both within Canada and abroad. Depending on the strengths and inclinations of the individual, after further professional training, pharmacologists may practice their profession as physicians, researchers, teachers, administrators, or combinations of these.

Students intending to become pharmacologists who have graduated with a B.Sc. degree will often find it helpful or even necessary to continue studying in the school of Graduate Studies, for a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree or a Doctorate (Ph.D.) degree before choosing a professional career. Almost without exception, the well-trained pharmacologist holds an M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree with three to six years of additional formal university education.

Another route into a career as a pharmacologist is from one of the health professions. Earning a degree in medicine (M.D.), dentistry (D.D.S.), veterinary medicine (D.V.M.) or pharmacy (B.Sc.Pharm.), or completing a combined M.D./Ph.D. program will often be the path into a clinically oriented branch of pharmacology. Eventually, most practising pharmacologists will concentrate on more specialized areas such as:

Molecular Pharmacology concerns the biochemical and biophysical interactions of molecules in the study of existing (conventional) drugs and in the formulation of new compounds. This involves much theoretical work and application to drug-organism interactions.

Biochemical Pharmacology studies the actions and fate of drugs through biochemical and enzymological interactions. The biochemical pharmacologist will likely have special training in enzymology, protein chemistry, biophysics and genetics.

Cardiovascular-Autonomic System Pharmacology: The heart and blood vessels and their neural control mechanisms offer particular challenges to pharmacologists. Many debilitating diseases have their origin in parts of the cardiovascular system, which are the leading causes of death in Western society. The search for new and effective drugs to control diseases of the heart and circulatory system is very active.

Neuro-psychopharmacology is the study of drugs which modify the functions of the nervous system. This includes not only anaesthesia, pain control, suppression of epileptic seizures, but also drug effects on mood and behavior, and the control with drugs of various forms of mental illness. Neuropharmacologists will likely have special skills in the physiology, biochemistry and pathology of the nervous system as well as a background in behavioral sciences.

Behavioral Pharmacology studies the effects of drugs on behavior, often in larger groups of individuals, or society as a whole. It requires a background in psychology, neurology, zoology and biochemistry in addition to sound pharmacological training.

Endocrine Pharmacology deals with the study of hormones. Some examples of endocrine pharmacological research and discoveries are insulin and its use in diabetes, the contraceptive pill, and steroids to combat inflammation. It also involves the study of more fundamental problems such as the regulating function of hormones on metabolic processes in the control of disease.

Chemotherapy is a pharmacological specialty concerned with the interactions of humans, microbiological agents of disease, and drugs. This field of study has greatly contributed to the development of safer and more effective drugs in the treatment of microbial and parasitic infections (e.g. antibiotics and antiviral drugs), immunological disorders, and neoplasia (anti-cancer drugs). It requires a sound background in microbiology, immunology and genetics.

Clinical Pharmacology is concerned with pharmacological work in humans, most often the study of drug effects, drug disposition, drug-drug interactions in the body, toxicity, and therapeutic applications. Clinical pharmacologists, as a rule, are practicing physicians working in large hospitals.

Minimum academic standards for the attainment of a Bachelor's Degree as published in the Calendar of the Faculty of Arts & Science are uniform for all programs of study. However, students intending to apply to the School of Graduate Studies in the University of Toronto after graduation will be confronted by high, competitive entrance requirements. It is advisable that students familiarize themselves with these requirements as early as possible, and that they organize their undergraduate studies accordingly.

Students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in Pharmacology at the University of Toronto should consult the graduate program webpage: http://www.pharmtox.utoronto.ca/programs/grad.htm

Additional information may also be obtained from the Pharmacology Graduate Office, Room 4207, Medical Sciences Building.