Department of Pharmacology a basic medical sciences specialty, primarily deals with imparting knowledge and skills concerning with drug administration to health care professional students from medical and paramedical specialties. Pharmacology stands the basis and pillar of clinical medicine and therapeutics. The field originates from the ancient civilizations and has grown leaps and bounds. Earlier the branch focused on natural substances especially plant extracts. Later it developed as a biomedical science that applied the principles of scientific experimentation to therapeutic context.
Various subdivisions include Pharmacovigilance, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacognosy, Marine pharmacology, Environmental pharmacology, Toxicology, Posology etc., Now we are ahead towards genetics, molecular biology and other advance tools helping us to transform information about molecular mechanism. Ultimately we will reach the goal of personalized medicine.
The department emphasizes and inculcates in young medical students the chemical and structural properties of the drugs and also teaches the way the body interacts with the drug and how it brings about the modifications or cure for various pathologies. Through the various detailed account of interactions and toxicities it also generates prudent doctors in prescribing drugs with caution.
Our department imparts the students not only the concept of using drugs but also the efficient way of dosing the drugs based on a person's weight and age and also the rational prescription where by the cost effectiveness is also taken into account. Our department is in the process of getting In silico methods — Computer assisted learning for animal experiments which will definitely give practical knowledge about the various actions of drugs to medical students.
Our department is committed to excellence in teaching under graduate students since 2010 and guiding various co-curricular activities. It is armed with dedicated, committed and dynamic faculties with immense passion for teaching. Teaching and research opportunities are satisfactorily met with the availability of well-equipped facilities such as air conditioned lecture halls, demonstration rooms with high-quality Audio-Visual aids, research and experimental lab. The department is also involved in rendering its clinical expertise with regard to Drug safety monitoring and Reporting with contributions of our faculties in the pharmacy and therapeutics committee and pharmacovigilance respectively. Faculties also have to their credit research publications in national and international renowned indexed journals.
Academic Activities
We teach Pharmacology for the following courses — II MBBS, I & II B.Sc., Allied Health Sciences, Diploma & Certificate Courses.
The goal of teaching undergraduate students in Pharmacology is to inculcate the essentials of rational and scientific basis of therapeutics. Also, to enable students capable of using drugs in clinical practice with scientific awareness by means of integrated teaching with clinical and pre-clinical departments.
To facilitate students to develop in-depth pharmacology knowledge pertaining to rational use of drugs, clinical pharmacology, pharmacovigilance and pharmacoeconomics.
Practical sessions include Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE), Clinical Pharmacology exercises, Dose Calculation, Pharmacoeconomics etc.
For Third MBBS Part-II students in the topics like Prescription auditing, Pharmacovigilance, Clinical Research and Clinical Pharmacy.
The goal of elective postings is to expose students to the role of Hospital Pharmacologists in prescription auditing, assessing drug information, high alert drugs, look alike and sound alike medications and devising hospital formulary and antibiotic policies.
To orient students towards essential aspects of clinical trials including interpretation of its results, importance of adherence to GCP guidelines and therapeutic drug monitoring, by means of a short industrial internship.
To foster and broaden the research perspectives among students in the field of pharmacology by leveraging collaborative multidisciplinary approaches.
We conduct small group discussions, debates, case resolution and student symposiums periodically to enhance the competitive spirit among young minds apart from didactic lectures. We also encourage and guide students to participate in Model making, Poster making and oral / poster presentations.
Members of the faculty of the Department of Pharmacology are involved in collaborative research with various clinical Departments. We have been guiding medical students in ICMR — Short Term Student projects.
Computer Assisted Learning Lab
II MBBS Students in Computer Assisted Learning Lab
Paper Publications by Faculties
1. DR. A. GOMATHI, MD., DGO., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT i/c
- — Journal of biomedical and pharmaceutical research OCTOBER 2020
- — National journal of physiology pharmacology and pharmacy NOV-2020
- — International journal of basic & clinic pharmacology NOVEMBER 2020
- — Indian journal of applied research DECEMBER 2020
- — Research journal of pharmaceutical biological and chemical sciences JUNE 2022
- — National journal of physiology pharmacology and pharmacy AUGUST 2022
2. DR. C. PREETH, MD., DO., ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
- — INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH. 2020;10(1):9 TO 12
- — INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC MEDICINE AND PHARMACY. 2023 ; 5 (6) ; 764-769
- — INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC MEDICINE AND PHARMACY. 2024 ; 6 (1) ; 1771-1777
3. DR. M. R. SABARISELVAN, MD., ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
- — AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH RESEARCH 2014: 9(2),46-53
- — INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH. 2019;9(11).
- — INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH 2024:16(1);176-181
Pharmacovigilance Workshops & Events
Pharmacovigilance Workshop for CRRI's — 27/03/2019
World Antibiotic Awareness Week Celebration — 27/11/2019
"WORLD ANTIBIOTIC AWARENESS WEEK" is observed every year in the month of November, which aims to increase awareness of antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the emergency and spread of antibiotic resistance.
Department of Pharmacology conducted Essay Competition in the topic "The future of Antibiotics depends on all of us".
Adverse Drug Reactions Monitoring Centre (AMC)
Adverse drug reactions monitoring centre, under the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) started functioning in the department from February 2021 onwards.
Pharmacovigilance Committee includes Head of the Department, Department of Pharmacology as Chair Person and Heads of all Clinical departments as members.
Causality Assessment Committee:
- Dr. C. Preeth, MD., DO., Co-Ordinator, AMC, GTMC as Chair Person
- Dr. R. Sureshkumar, MD., Deputy Co-Ordinator, AMC, GTMC as Member Clinician
- Mr. Kumar, Chief Pharmacist, GTMC as Member
National Pharmacovigilance Week Celebrations
2021
- Sensitization Programme on Pharmacovigilance for MBBS Students — 21/09/2021
- Sensitization regarding Adverse Drug Reactions and Safe Use of Medicines for Common Public — 22/09/2021
- Essay Competition conducted for MBBS students on 22/09/2021
- Prize & Certificate Distribution for Essay Competition Participants by Dean. Prof. Dr. G. Joseph Raj, MS., MCh. on 23/09/2021
2022
- A. Sensitization Programme on "Encouraging Reporting of ADRs by Patients" & Distribution of Pamphlets at Primary Health Centre, Perumpannayur
- B. Sensitization Programme for Health Care Professionals on "Pharmacovigilance — A step towards patient safety" at Primary Health Centre, Perumpannayur
- C. Sensitization Programme for Health Care Professionals on "Pharmacovigilance — A step towards patient safety" at Seminar Hall, CEmONC Building, GTMC
- D. Sensitization Programme for MBBS Students on "Pharmacovigilance — A step towards patient safety" & Prize Distribution for Students on Best E-Poster Presentation
- E. Sensitization Programme on "Encouraging Reporting of ADRs by Patients" & Distribution of Pamphlets at Primary Health Centre, Kulikkarai
- F. Sensitization Programme for Health Care Professionals on "Pharmacovigilance — A step towards patient safety" at Primary Health Centre, Kulikkarai
2023
- A. Sensitization Rally by MBBS Students on 20/09/2023 in the view of "Boosting Public Confidence in Pharmacovigilance"
- B. Opening of "VIGIL ARCADE" established at Department of Pharmacology, GTMC filled with posters on Pharmacovigilance on 21/09/23
- C. Continuing Medical Education on MEDIACUITY'23 on 21/09/2023
2024
- A. Dr. A. Gomathi, Head of the Department I/c addressing Overview of Pharmacovigilance to II B.Sc., AHS Students on 20/09/2024
- B. Dr. C. Preeth, Senior Assistant Professor — Importance of Pharmacovigilance and Hands on training on ADR Form filling to II B.Sc., AHS Students