The University of Toledo

Ph.D. in Experimental Therapeutics

Program Overview

Experimental therapeutics is the integration of basic and applied sciences focused on the study of and development of new treatments for human disease. Research in experimental therapeutics seeks to understand human diseases from the molecular level to the whole organism in order to develop rational approaches for new pharmacological treatments. In addition, experimental therapeutics includes the development of new therapies through systematic investigation at increasing levels of complexity ranging from individual molecules and proteins, to cellular and tissue based assays and to the whole organism. The purpose of the program is to train students at the doctoral level who can translate discoveries in the laboratory to therapies in a clinical setting.

Admission Requirements

Satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy or a related discipline is required.

The ability to excel in graduate studies and research must be evident based on grades from undergraduate studies, recommendations from college faculty, results from standardized aptitude and achievement examinations (Graduate Record Examination), and performance in research and independent study.

Students with M.S. degrees in pharmacology or related fields (e.g., pharmaceutical sciences) may be also admitted to the program. However, they are expected to have a minimum of 30 credits at the Master's level prior to accruing doctoral level credits.

Required Courses

Ph.D. students need to complete the following required courses at the 5000 to 8000 level as partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D. degree. The course level is determined by the number of graduate credits completed at the time of registering for that particular course.

PHCL 5700             Pharmacology I........................................................... 3^a

PHCL 5100/7100     Principles of Experimental Therapeutics I........................... 3

PHCL 5200/7200     Principles of Experimental Therapeutics II.......................... 3

PHCL 5770/7770     Current Topics in Toxicology I.......................................... 1

PHCL 6650/8650     Seminar in Experimental Therapeutics (Minimum 6 hours required). 2

PHCL 5460/7460     Current Topics in Pharmacokinetics/Toxicokinetics................. 1

PHCL 5440/7440     Current Topics in Interpretation of Pharmaceutical Data.......... 1

PHCL 6300/8300     Research Experience in Experimental Therapeutics .......... 2-6^b

PHCL 8960            Ph.D. Dissertation Research in Experimental Therapeutics ...... 1-15^c

MBC 6190/8190     Advanced Medicinal Chemistry......................................... 4

MBC 6550/8550     Biochemistry................................................................ 4^d

INDI 602/802        On Being a Scientist.................................................... 1

^a Not required if this same course, or PHCL-3700 or equivalent was taken previously. If taken by Masters' students admitted to the program, the credit will not count toward those required for the Ph.D. degree.

^b To fulfill the required laboratory rotations, a minimum of 4 hours must be taken in two different sections of the course (2 hours in each).

^c A minimum of 30 hours is required

^dNot required if this same course or, (MBC-3550+MBC-3560), or (CHEM-3510+ CHEM-3520), or equivalents were taken previously.

General Elective Courses

In addition to the required courses, general elective courses may be selected from the following. The course level to be taken is dependent on the number of graduate credits earned at the time of registration for that particular course:

PHCL 5750             Toxicology II..................................... 3

PHCL 5630             Cancer Chemotherapy......................... 3

PHCL 5990             Problems in Pharmacology.................... 1-6

PHCL 6390/8390    Problems in Experimental Therapeutics..... 1-6

MBC 5620/7620     Biochemical Techniques......................... 2

MBC 5380/7380     Medicinal and Poisonous Plants............... 3

MBC 6100/8100     Advanced Immunology.......................... 2

MBC 6800/8800     Methods in Biotechnology...................... 3

CHEM 6510/8510  Protein Chemistry................................. 2-4

CHEM 6520/8520  Enzymology......................................... 2-4

CHEM 6530/8530  Nucleic Acid Chemistry.......................... 2-4

BIOL 6010/8010     Advanced Molecular Biology................... 4

BIOL 6090/8090     Advanced Cell Biology........................... 4

BIOL 6100/8100     Research Methodology: Cell Mol. Biol....... 3

Specialized Elective Courses

Specialized elective courses are recommended for students with concentrations in different areas of the program, and may be selected from the following list:

BMSP 634/834     CPRA in Cell Signaling and Biology............ 3

BMSP 633/833     CPRA Protein Structure & Catalysis.......... 3

BMSP 634/834     CPRA Genes & Genomes........................ 3

BMSP 636/836     CPRA Cell Membrane............................. 3

IITP 602/802         Advanced Immunology........................ 1

NND 581/781       Neuroscience...................................... 6

BIOE   5620          Cellular Electrophysiology..................... 3

MFGM8690          Innovation in Technology Commercialization...... 3

Other elective courses may be taken with the approval of the department graduate committee.

Additional Requirements

In addition, all students must satisfy the following:

1.    Minimum of 90 semester hours of graduate credit, including a minimum of 30 semesters hours at the Masters level, and a Minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s level. The required minimum 60 credits beyond the Masters level should include a minimum of 30 hours of Ph.D. dissertation research.

2.     A grade of B- or higher is expected to be maintained for the required courses. A grade of B- or higher is also required for all of the pre-requisite courses.

3.     An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained.

4.     Satisfactory overall performance is expected on a written qualifying examination, which is administered after completion of the required graduate courses. The qualifying examination covers the following graduate courses, including their pre- and/or their co-requisites:

PHCL 5100/7100     Principles of Experimental Therapeutics I.................... 3

PHCL 5200/7200     Principles of Experimental Therapeutics II................... 3

PHCL 5770/7770     Current Topics in Toxicology I.................................. 1

PHCL 5460/7460     Current Topics in Pharmacokinetics/Toxicokinetics........ 1

PHCL 5440/7440     Current Topics in Interpretation of Pharmaceutical Data... 1

5.     Selection of a doctoral research adviser, preparation of an acceptable written Ph.D. dissertation proposal in consultation with the adviser, and the satisfactory oral defense of the proposal before the dissertation advisory committee. The written qualifying examination and the defense of the dissertation proposal will constitute the examination requirements necessary for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. in Experimental Therapeutics. The chair of the doctoral dissertation advisory committee will be the student’s doctoral research adviser. The dissertation advisory committee will consist of at least two additional faculty members plus one member from outside the student’s department or college.

6.     Subsequent to admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, the student is expected to spend a minimum of two semesters in full-time study at The University of Toledo.

7.     Preparation of a Ph.D. dissertation based on the results of an original research investigation performed by the student during his/her Ph.D. program at The University of Toledo.

8.     Successful oral defense of the dissertation before the dissertation advisory committee and presentation of the results of the dissertation research in a seminar before the department of pharmacology.

9.     Acceptance of the dissertation by the Ph.D. dissertation adviser and the dissertation advisory committee.