After completion of the Minor:

1. You will be able to explain the effects of medical drugs in patients by interpretation of pharmacological data obtained from experiments investigating the action of the drug on the molecular, cellular, organ and population level.
2. Based upon the principles of pharmacokinetics and dynamics you will be able to describe, analyze and interpret aspects relevant for establishing personalized pharmacotherapy in special patient populations (pregnancy, pediatric, geriatric, polypharmacy, renal/hepatic failure).
3. You will be able to interpret and conceive scientific research questions, based on which you will be able to design, conduct and report small scale basic and clinical pharmacological and toxicological studies.
4. You will be able to analyze the various aspects involved in the market registration, subsequent post marketing surveillance and potential withdrawal of drugs from the market.
5. You will be able to apply the knowledge, principles and methods discussed for medical drugs in objectives 1-4, to assess the effects and risks of drugs of abuse as well. Both on a patient as well as a population/societal level.

In this minor you will deepen and broaden your understanding of how medical drugs act, by familiarizing yourself with the principles that underlie the rational and safe application of these drugs in patients. You will address the challenges associated with medical drug treatment of special patient populations (e.g. pregnancy, pediatrics, geriatrics, critically ill), while also examining various scientific approaches to study effects of drugs on a molecular, organ and patient and population level. You will examine the nature of side-effects of medical drugs, and familiarize yourself with various aspects of market approval, pharmacovigilance and possible withdrawal of drugs from the market due to adverse effects. Finally, we will study and evaluate the medical effects and societal impact of drugs of abuse.

Key words
Effects and side-effects of medical drugs, Personalized pharmacotherapy, Pharmacovigilance, Drugs of abuse, Pharmacology, Toxicology.