Course overview
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the concept of mathematical modelling in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, its role in understanding patient response to drug treatment and to illustrate how this information can be used to inform decisions during drug development programs. The theoretical aspects pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling of in vivo and in vitro data; Linear and Nonlinear models, compartmental modelling and non-compartmental analysis of pharmacokinetic data, empirical and physiological models, population models; Selection and validation of models, and their use to simulate outcomes which will assist in future study design; Methods employed to identify factors which might explain variability in drug response between individuals and how these can be incorporated into a model; Use of models to inform decisions during drug development programs.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the approaches used to mathematically describe the actions and reactions of drugs, and how modelling is used to identify sources of variability in the response to drug treatment
- Perform basic modelling analyses
- Assess and communicate the implications models have on the selection of a drug for further development and appropriate dosing strategies for the target patient group(s)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of modelling and a capacity to interrogate a modelling strategy to identify areas requiring further validation
- Demonstrate an understanding of international best practice by identification and critique of published literature in the field
- Demonstrate the practical application of these concepts in individual and group work assignments