Developed & Conducted by the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
This course will teach pharmaceutical scientists the essential elements of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PKPD). While PK describes what a body does to a drug, PD describes what the drug does to the body, and both aspects are important concepts in drug development. Through this course, you will learn foundational concepts of PK such as clearance, exposure, and bioavailability and how they are applied in drug development. Basic mathematical equations will also be explained; however, the focus will be on higher level concepts and not complex math. Fundamental PD concepts will also be described, and the inseparable relationship between PK and PD will be discussed.
Also covered in this course are topics in which fundamental PK knowledge is essential. These include drug-drug interactions (DDI), bioequivalence, and dosing in special populations. As PK permeates many aspects of drug development, lectures will also discuss PK in the context of preclinical and clinical research and how PK can impact drug development. Lastly, regulatory guidelines governing PKPD studies will also be introduced.
The PKPD short course is an online course with live and recorded components. There are 4 live webinar sessions designed for student/faculty interaction. Prior to the first session, and in between the remaining sessions the students will be assigned recorded lectures and reading that will provide the basis of the live discussion for that session.
Upon completion of this course, you will develop a broad PKPD vocabulary and improve your communication and interactions with PKPD scientists to foster efficient and effective teamwork. This course is also an elective for the Drug Product Development Certificate and may be taken to fulfill the elective requirement.
Developed & Conducted by the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
This course will consist of four live webinars via Zoom as well as asynchronous course work.
The four live webinar sessions will be September 9, 10, 17 & 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST.
$1750 (Please contact us to qualify for academic, graduate student or group rates.)
Cancellations after September 1, 2025 are non-refundable. Cancellations prior to that date are subject to a $75 administration fee. In the event that a registrant cannot attend, a substitute may be sent.
Course Objectives
This course will provide the learner with fundamental knowledge of PKPD concepts, vocabulary, and biology. The high-level course objectives are:
Describe basic PK concepts and their application in drug development
Define fundamental PK parameters and why they are important
Explain the link between PK and PD and how this can be used to understand drug action
Build confidence in interacting with PKPD scientists on your drug development teams
Who Should Attend
Scientists who wish to learn more about the basic tenets of PKPD with an emphasis on the concepts, vocabulary, and biology of PK. This course is not intended for scientists who already possess a solid understanding of PK principles and their application in drug development.
Course Outline
Schedule subject to change
Course library
PKPD glossary
Assorted journal articles and book chapters
Recorded lecture on bioanalytical considerations for PKPD
Recorded lecture on the BCS and BDDCS and application to PK
Problem sets
September 9
Session 1: Opening Live Webinar - Tuesday, September 9, 2025 (approximately 4.0 hours)
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST
Overview of basic PK concepts - ADME basics
Overview of basic PK concepts - routes of administration, compartmental vs non-compartmental analysis
Fundamental PK concepts and descriptive parameters
Q&A
September 10
Session 2: Live Webinar - Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (approximately 4.0 hours)
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST
Analysis of PK data and understanding the parameters
Accumulation and single vs multiple dosing
Preclinical and translational considerations
Q&A
September 17
Session 3: Live Webinar - Wednesday, September 17, 2025 (approximately 4.0 hours)
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST
Clinical considerations for PKPD analysis
PKPD in special populations
Drug-drug interactions
Q&A
September 18
Session 4: Live Webinar - Thursday, September 18, 2025 (approximately 4.0 hours)
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST
Special Topics in PK (4 hours)
Small molecule vs macromolecule PK
Pharmacodynamics
PKPD modeling approaches
Q&A and wrap-up
Instructors
Leslie Dickmann, PhD, MPH
Faculty Associate
School of Pharmacy
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Robert J. Guttendorf, RPh, PhD Aclairo Pharmaceutical Development Group, Inc.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Pharmacy
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Sin Yin (Sean) Lim, PharmD, MS
Assistant Professor (CHS)
School of Pharmacy
University of Wisconsin, Madison
