Pharmacology is a unique and dynamic branch of pharmacy since it involves the understanding of how a drug deals with the human body and how the human body responds to the drug. The department offers undergraduate courses like Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapeutics. The postgraduate programme in Pharmacology focuses on research-oriented courses like Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Clinical Research and Pharmacovigilance, etc. The department has collaborations with research institutes, industries and other basic science departments where students can participate in interdisciplinary research projects that are relevant to pharmacology. The research projects facilitate a critical examination of pharmacological approaches and analyses/techniques used in research and produce a comprehensive dissertation and present their findings. The students are motivated for overall development, including- personality development, scientific writing, data interpretation, presentation, documentation, good laboratory practices, communication, and soft skills. Alumni students of the department are placed in research and development, medical writing, CRO’s and reputed academic institutions. The department has received several consultancy projects from various government agencies and pharmaceutical industries. Research scholarships for PhD programmes are awarded on a competitive basis and are supported by University schemes.
The understanding of the effect of the drugs requires the use of various animals for which the Institute has animal house facilities approved by CPCSEA and houses animals like rats, mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits. The basic instruments used for the above experiments are Gradient Thermal Cycler Polymerase Chain Reaction, High-Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge, Vertical gel electrophoresis Unit, Western blot apparatus, Gel Documentation system, Horizontal gel electrophoresis Unit, Inverted Microscope, ELISA Reader and Washer, Data Acquisition System for measurement of cardiovascular and Respiratory Parameters, Semi-automated Biochemical Auto Analyser, Haematoanalyser etc.
The department has received grants worth more than ten million rupees including four major grants and five minor research grants from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Gujarat Council of Science and Technology (GUJCOST). The faculty members have published many research papers, review articles in referred international and national journals and have filed patents in Indian Patent Office. They also won prizes in different level competitions. The department has also developed expertise in surgical models like partial abdominal aortic constriction of cardiac hypertrophy, middle cerebral artery occlusion for stroke, ovariectomy model for osteoporosis, lymphatic duct cannulation for pharmacokinetic study, etc.
New therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative and Metabolic Disorders.