Masters of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Biochemistry

Program Overview

The Master's Program in Biochemistry aims to support the student's academic and research ability and qualify him to practice practical research in addition to acquiring distinguished clinical skills to ensure the preparation of graduates with a scientific base and advanced field experience. The program’s objectives do not stop at the areas of understanding the mechanisms of disease occurrence and early detection, but go beyond them to serve society and forensic medicine, as is the case in toxicology and drug analyzes in the blood, accurate hormone analyses, tests to prove paternity and lineage, reproductive tests, diagnosing infertility and understanding its causes. Accordingly, this program - upon completion - provides opportunities for graduates to work in hospitals, private analysis laboratories, research centers, drug registration departments, as well as educational institutions. This program is supervised

by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Toxicology and Biochemistry.

Program Outline

PROGRAM COURSES

PCR 801: SCIENTIFIC WRITING (1+0)

This course aims to demystify the writing process and teach the fundamentals of effective scientific writing. Instructions will focus primarily on the process of writing and publishing scientific manuscripts but grant writing will also be addressed. The course will be presented in two segments: Part (1) teaches students how to write effectively, concisely, and clearly and part (2) takes them through the preparation of an actual scientific manuscript or grant.

PCR 802: ETHICS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (1+0)

The course is essentially intended for graduate students in the biomedical sciences. This course delineates important ethical issues of scientific investigation, including intellectual property, plagiarism, conflict of interest, human and animal subjects, and record keeping.

PCR 803: PHARMACEUTICAL STATISTICS (2+0)

An intensive introductory course in statistical methods used in applied research. Emphasis is placed on the principles of statistical reasoning, underlying assumptions, and careful interpretation of results. Topics covered include descriptive statistics, graphical displays of data, introduction to probability, expectations and variance of random variables, confidence intervals and tests for means, differences of means, proportions, differences of proportions, chi-square tests for categorical variables, regression and multiple regressions, an introduction to analysis of variance.

PHL 851: ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY (2+0)

This course introduces the student to: Cell overview and chemistry of biomolecules and how this relates to cell structure/function, cell division- cell cycle- carcinogenesis and apoptosis. The course deals also with proteins and proteomics: protein structure and chemistry include structural motifs, ligand binding, conformational changes, chemical modification, protein folding, structure prediction by molecular modeling, post-translational modifications, protein-protein interaction and metalloproteins. It covers also the structure, mechanism and biological interactions of enzymes with regard to chemical principles of kinetics and reactions

PHL 852: CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY (2+0)

Upon completion of this course, students shall be conversant with the role of biochemical pathways in maintaining healthy cells/tissues; and body functions, pathophysiological lesions evoked by altered, mutated key biochemical effectors. The course covers also the role of cell cycle machinery, biochemical triggers, mutations and environmental factors (carcinogens). In addition to inborn errors of metabolism, accentuated by a case study approach, cellular mechanisms of metabolic diseases, tolerance, and non-tolerance of nutrients in evoking diseases. The role oxidative stress in disease induction and possible biochemical mechanisms. Practical aspect handles real clinical case studies as a PBL approach.

PHL 853: BIOCHEMICAL METHODS AND TECHNIQUES (2+0)

Upon completion of this course, students shall dominate the following: Modern biochemical techniques for analysis of different biochemical molecules. Laboratory safety, centrifugation, data analysis, use of radioisotopes, bioinformatics and a selection of protein characterization techniques, chromatography, gel electrophoresis, ELISA techniques and mass spectrometry.

PHL 854: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (2+0)

This course introduces the student to: Chemical structure and physical characterization of nucleic acids, DNA topology, the synthesis of nucleotides, DNA, RNA and proteins. Nucleic acid-protein interaction, as relates to transcription and chromosome structure. Control mechanisms of transcription and gene expression. Molecular biology techniques (Recombinant DNA and cloning of DNA molecules and their applications (e.g. PCR).

PHL 855: ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY (3+0)

This course entitles the students to be fluent with the term Energy and its integration with metabolism. It deals also with the regulation of metabolism and signal transduction the structure, function, compartmentation of selected metabolic pathways in microbes, plants and animals (carbohydrate metabolism, lipid and steroidogenesis (biosynthesis) and nitrogen metabolism. In addition, it explains signal transduction pathways from the membrane to nucleus and structure and function of protein kinases and protein phosphatases, modulation of transcription factors. The focus will be also on metabolism of individual biomolecules and integration among various metabolic pathways as well as hormonal actions and their metabolic roles.

PHL 856: SEMINAR (1+0)

This course targets broadening student knowledge and professional skills, augmenting their exposure to relevant, up-to-date, specific, multifaceted literature articles and reviews. This knowledge will be presented and discussed periodically with guidance from the instructors.

PHL 857: CLINICAL NUTRITION: ROLE IN HEALTH AND DISEASE (2+0)

Because nutrition is an essential partner in health and disease, this course was designed to fortify the students with crucial concepts and applications of nutrition, as delineated hereunder: General and specific definitions in the context of nutrition. Role and differential needs for macronutrients and micronutrients. Disorders and risk of nutrient deficiency. Nutrient interactions with medicines and their sequelae. Role and needs of nutrients in common metabolic, cardiovascular, and CNS disorders. Human body weight standards, controlling factors and disorders. Obesity: definition, etiology, risk managements

PHL 858: IMPACT OF NUTRIENTS AND DRUGS ON LABORATORY DATA (2+0)

Upon termination of this provision, students shall be able to dominate the clinical significance of biochemical lab test results and interactions of drugs with lab tests. The effect of diet and dietary modifications on lab results will be also explained. Caution relating to use of drugs or nutrients in special population (elderly- races- diabetes- cystic fibrosis- phenylketonurics).