What’s Going on in my Brain? Drug Abuse Liabilities and More
This 100% online course on CNS pharmacology provides an intensive overview of the nervous system. The course explores the central and peripheral nervous system (CNS and PNS respectively.) Course material covers pharmacology and physiology of the nervous system.
You will learn factors critical to drug discovery and development including:
diseases of the nervous system
pharmacological targets
drug abuse considerations
suicide assessment
peripheral neuropathy
Upon completion, you will be better informed to make crucial drug development decisions for targeting the brain. This course is part of the Drug Product Development Certificate. It fulfills the elective. You may take this course as is or part of the certificate. Scientists developing drugs targeting the brain are encouraged to take this course.
Please contact Eric Buxton to qualify for the academic and graduate student rate.
This course is online and self-paced. You may register at any time and complete the curriculum at your own pace by December 31, 2022
Course Objectives
Following completion of this course the learner will be able to:
Recognize the basic anatomy and physiology of the Nervous System
Describe Nervous System Receptor Pharmacology
Prepare for challenges of developing efficacious yet safe compounds by identifying common CNS and PNS diseases
Recognize the regulatory concerns for drug abuse of novel compounds.
Evaluate the new concerns and potential models to assess suicidality as well as peripheral neuropathy.
Course Outline
Module 1
One hour webinar plus one hour online activity each week
Nervous System Part 1: Understanding the CNS
Faculty: Dr. Kristy D. Bruse
CNS vs PNS
CNS- Brain and Spinal Cord (integration and processing)
Brain organization
Histology- cell types and what they do
Cerebrum, midbrain (regulatory region such as Basal Nuclei and Hypothalamus), Brainstem, Cerebellum, CSF, Blood Brain Barrier, Intranasal- Olfactory system (a target for drug route of administration)
Technologies for assessing brain function: (e.g. PET, MRI. EEG)
Module 2
Receptor Pharmacology and Drug Development
Faculty: Dr. Kristy D. Bruse
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
Neurotransmitter and pathways for Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine, epinephrine, GABA, Glutamate, opioid, cannabinoids, NPY, and more
Receptors- Muscarinic (especially Nicotinic), GABAergic, Glutamate, adrenergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic, opioid, cannabinoids, NPY, and more
Neuropathways- What we know about the brain communication pathways
Preclinical assays: Preclinical Assays for Early Discovery and IND-enabling
In vitro assays: Receptor screening; Hippocampal brain slices, etc.
In Vivo- Animal models for efficacy and safety/toxicity assessment. Include neurotransmitter measurements of selected brain regions, microinjections into the selected brain regions, Functional observational behavioral measurements, Morris water maze (learning and memory- video)
IND package studies: Toxicology and Safety Pharmacology
Supporting Clinical studies- based on preclinical signs what should the Clinicians be observing?
Risk:Benefit
Module 3
Nervous System Part 2: Peripheral Nervous System
Faculty: Dr. Mathew Abernathy
PNS- peripheral nerves, nerve ganglia and nerve terminals (sensory)
Peripheral Nervous System organization
Sensory, Motor, Autonomic Nervous System
Peripheral Pain
Peripheral Nervous system dysfunction: Multiple Sclerosis, etc
Technologies for assessing peripheral nerve function (EMG, etc).
Module 4
Pathology and Diseases and Research Models
Faculty: Dr. Mathew Abernathy
Peripheral Nervous system dysfunction: Multiple Sclerosis, etc.
Learning and Memory
Depression, Anxiety and Schizophrenia (understanding the receptors in the brain and mental illness)
Trauma
Addiction and Suicidal Behaviors
Pain
Module 5
Seizures and Preclinical Drug Development
Faculty: Dr. Monica Metea
Seizures
Module 6
Brain Dysfunctions, Neurodisease Research Models Faculty: Dr. Kristy D. Bruse
Dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's, hypoxia induced from Transient Ischemic Attacks)
Somamotor Dysfunction (Huntington's, Parkinson's)
Trauma
Module 7
Drug Development: CNS Preclincial Assays
Faculty: Dr. Kristy D. Bruse
In vitro assays: Receptor screening; Hippocampal brain slices, etc.
In Vivo- Animal models for efficacy and safety/toxicity assessment. Include neurotransmitter measurements of selected brain regions, microinjections into the selected brain regions, Functional observational behavioral measurements, Morris water maze (learning and memory- video), drug abuse liability
IND package studies: Toxicology and Safety Pharmacology
Supporting Clinical studies- based on preclinical signs what should the Clinicians be observing?
Risk:Benefit
Module 8
Case Studies
Instructors
Kristy D. Bruse,PhD, (Consultant)
Dr. Kristy D. Bruse is a CardioRespiratory Disease Model (especially Pulmonary Artery Hypertension rat models) and Safety Pharmacology Expert Consultant. She has been involved in industry, academia and veterinary medicine for over three decades. Dr. Bruse has a strong belief that Safety Pharmacology is an integral component in the drug development process. Better identification of lead compounds and quality safety assessment will only increase the success rate for biotech and pharmaceutical companies as well as provide safe and effective drugs for patients. She has been an active member of the Safety Pharmacology Society since 2001 and was the 2008 Vice President-elect, 2009 Vice President and the 2010 President. Dr. Bruse can provide Assist in Discovery and Early Safety Assessment to streamline the drug discovery process.
Matthew Abernathy,PhD, (Eli Lilly)
Dr. Abernathy earned a BS in biology at Indiana University and a PhD in biological sciences at Western Michigan University. His research interest is to characterize the safety and/or efficacy of new drug candidates for use in otic or systemically administered formulations. He has a broad background in applied biology, having worked in various positions in contract research laboratories for the past nine years. He began as a research technician at MPI Research collecting data to evaluate potential off-target/adverse drug effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and central nervous systems in preclinical laboratory animal models. From there he transitioned to a surgical technician role at the Borgess Medical Device Research Laboratory where he worked with a team of Cardiovascular Interventionists to evaluate safety aspects of new stent prototypes, including incidence of stroke and restenosis. He returned to MPI Research to lead preclinical drug screening efforts.
Program Coordinator
Eric Buxton, PhD
Division of Pharmacy Professional Development 777 Highland Avenue Madison, WI 53705 (608) 262-2431 FAX (608) 265-2259 eric.buxton@wisc.edu