1. Information on pharmacology curriculum at the 1^st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague

Pharmacology lectures and seminars

These lectures and seminars are intended for the 3^rd year medical students of this school. A reduced version of the lectures are delivered to the bachelor degree students of various types of nursery studies and as a special course for students of the faculty of education that will teach young students who have some physical or mental defects. Indeed, at this institute students from the faculty of medicine, department of dentistry, four types of bachelor degree nursing students, and the so-called specially oriented students from the faculty of education at Prague Charles University are receiving their pharmacology education. In addition, 8 postgraduate students are preparing for their Ph.D. degree in pharmacology within the university program of biomedical sciences.

Teaching medical students (medicine and dentistry) takes place during two semesters. Each semester terminates with a credit. After the two credits the student should pass an examination of essay type of questions. Teaching for the other types of students takes place in one semester that terminates with credit and an examination.

2. Information on new trends in pharmacology curriculum at the 1^st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague

The new trend in pharmacology teaching at this institute includes the addition of new lectures in immunopharmacology, gene therapy and ocular pharmacology.

Students of the final year of the Faculty of Education at Charles University, the so-called specially oriented students are receiving pharmacology education at this institute. The reason for this is that those students will be the future teachers for pupils or students who are mentally or physically disable. The latter young people usually are under drug treatment. So it is advocated that their teachers should have basic knowledge in pharmacology and some related subjects.

At present we have installed a computer network for students pharmacology teaching at this institute. The goals are to enable them to use available pharmacology software for teaching and interactive learning and to make use of the potentiality of the European pharmacology education program EpharNet.

3. Information on scope of research interest

   Hassan Farghali, D.Sc. Professor of Pharmacology. Institute of Pharmacology, 1^st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Albertov 4, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic. Tel + 420 2 293254, fax + 420 2 293254, email hfarg@lf1.cuni.cz. Some regulatory mechanisms in hepatotoxicity. Investigation of some molecular mechanisms of hepatocytes injuries and its possible modulation by selective immunosuppressants. Nitric oxide and autoimmunity diseases - Pharmacotherapeutic implications. The application of hepatocytes bioreactor model to investigate liver cells-xenobiotic interactions. Evaluation of potential hepatoprotective compounds: Comparative study in immobilized perfused hepatocytes.

   Six associate and assistant professors, working on biochemical changes produced by some xenobiotics in some organs and tissues as, adipose tissues, myocardium, uterus and CNS. Drug abuse research studies by the neuroscience group.