Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Actions

Graduate / Professional

This course provides fundamental background in core principles of pharmacology, molecular mechanisms of drug action, and key research areas in contemporary pharmacology. Core material includes drug-receptor theory, multiple equilibria and kinetics, pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism, therapeutic drug monitoring, drug discovery process, and emerging approaches such as AI-based drug design. Specific content on the mechanisms of drug action includes agents to treat inflammatory, autoimmune, infectious, neoplastic, cardiovascular, and neurological disease. The course includes a self-study component consisting of video modules produced in collaboration between Yale faculty and Merck that explore the preclinical and clinical phases of drug development. Students review these videos independently and then present and discuss what they learned in groups. MW 10:40am-11:55am