Often confused with pharmacy, pharmacology is a separate discipline in the health sciences. Pharmacology is the science of how drugs act on biological systems and how the body responds to the drug. The study of pharmacology encompasses the sources, chemical properties, biological effects and therapeutic uses of drugs. Pharmacy uses the knowledge derived from pharmacology to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes through the appropriate preparation and dispensing of medicines.

Pharmacology integrates the knowledge of many disciplines, including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and veterinary medicine. This integrative nature allows pharmacology to make unique and significant contributions to human health.

If you are:

• a highly motivated student seeking a rewarding career in the biomedical sciences
• interested in making a major contribution to the understanding of both novel and current disease processes
• interested in the development of new therapies used in the clinic

We encourage you to learn more about pharmacology. A booklet entitled Explore Pharmacology provides a broad overview of the discipline, highlights promising areas of research, and describes the diverse career paths open to those with training in pharmacology.

Download Explore Pharmacology PDF