Overview
The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology focuses on the study of drugs and their effects on biological systems, as well as the harmful effects of chemicals on living organisms. Pharmacology explores how drugs interact with biological systems to treat diseases, while toxicology investigates the adverse effects of chemicals on health. The department offers lectures in human physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, general principles of pharmacology, autonomic system pharmacology, autocoids, inflammatory and immune system pharmacology, and systems pharmacology (endocrine, reproductive, respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, nervous system, musculoskeletal, chemotherapeutic and anti-infectives etc), toxicology, risk assessment, clinical trials and pharmacovigilance to Doctor of Pharmacy students in the regular and top-up programmes. The department is also involved in the teaching of pharmacology courses to nursing, midwifery, dietetics, physiotherapy, medical laboratory, Graduate Entry Medical programme (GEMP) and veterinary medical students at the University of Ghana.
The department is guided by core values such as upholding high standards of scientific inquiry and experimental design, ensuring that research and practice adhere to ethical guidelines in human and animal studies, embracing innovation in drug discovery, development, and safety assessment, and maintaining a commitment to educating future pharmacologists and toxicologists.
The department engages in a wide range of activities, including researching new drugs, most of natural origins and their mechanisms of action, evaluating the safety of drugs and chemicals through preclinical and clinical studies, assessing the toxicity of substances to understand potential hazards, studying how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in humans, and investigating the impact of chemicals on the environment and ecosystems. Through its research, education, and regulatory contributions, the department plays a crucial role in advancing medicine, ensuring drug safety, and protecting public health.
Professor Emelia Oppong Bekoe ( HOD)
Departmental Faculty and Staff