Adverse Drug Reactions, Drug Interactions and Pharmacovigilance



Overview

The Adverse Drug Reactions, Drug Interactions and Pharmacovigilance course is a one-week module of the MSc in Experimental Therapeutics. Offered by Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS) and the Department for Continuing Education, the teaching will be led by Dr Michael Theodorakis, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, and will feature face-to-face lectures and tutorials from some of the country's leading clinicians and scientists.

The module can be taken as a stand-alone short course. It includes group work, discussions, guest lectures, and interaction and feedback with tutors and lecturers.

Please send me an email about future Adverse Drug Reactions, Drug Interactions, and Pharmacovigilance courses.

The Adverse Drug Reactions, Drug Interactions and Pharmacovigilance course will provide students with the opportunity to learn more about and discuss the following topics:

  • Safety of medicines for human use – principles and framework
  • Adverse drug reactions – mechanisms, analysis, reporting, vulnerable populations
  • Drug interactions – epidemiology, mechanisms, detection and prevention
  • Principles of optimal pharmacotherapy
  • Pharmacovigilance – principles, methodologies, risk management & pharmacoepidemiology
  • Clinical trials – bioethics of drug safety, pharmacovigilance in trial design, applications for marketing authorisation
  • Regulatory framework and legislation

 

Programme details

This course can be taken:

 

Venue

We anticipate that this course will be held at the Department for Continuing Education premises in Oxford - either in Rewley House, Wellington Square, or at our Ewert House location in Summertown. The location will be confirmed later in the academic year.

Certification

Short course participants who do not wish to undertake the assessed work required for academic credit but who do satisfy the course attendance requirements will receive a certificate of attendance. The sample above is an illustration only, and the wording will reflect the course and dates attended.

Those successfully completing the course for credit can request a CATS point transcript.

Fees

Description Costs
2022-23 & earlier enrolled - MSc in ETT £2475.00
Standalone fee for 2024-25 £3175.00
Students enrolled on MSc in ETT £2570.00

Funding

Potential sources of funding for courses in Experimental and Translational Therapeutics.

Details of funding opportunities including grants, bursaries and scholarships are available on our sources of funding page.

Payment

The course fee includes:

  • Tuition
  • Course materials
  • Refreshments and a three course lunch on each day of the course
  • Access to the following University of Oxford libraries and services:
    • Radcliffe Science Library
    • Rewley House Continuing Education Library
    • Bodleian Libraries e-Resources
  • Access to facilities from the Department for Continuing Education, including:
    • The Graduate School
    • WebLearn virtual learning environment
    • Wi-fi access through Oxford Wireless LAN (OWL).

Tutor

Dr Michael Theodorakis

Tutor and Module Lead

Dr Theodorakis is a Physician Scientist certified in Internal Medicine, Diabetic Medicine, Geriatrics and Clinical Pharmacology. He received his PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Georgia, USA and then served as a Clinical Associate and Investigator in the US National Institutes of Health, at the Magnuson Clinical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland, with a joint appointment at the Diabetes Section, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, Maryland. He joined the Clinical Faculty at the University of Athens Medical School before moving to the UK.

 

He has served in the past and continues to serve as a Member of Committees at the European Medicines Agency and other EU Commission workgroups, along with his continuing membership in many prominent professional societies and scientific associations in Europe and the US. He is a practising Consultant clinician and accredited Educational / Clinical Supervisor.

 

Dr Theodorakis has long been involved in clinical research and has been especially active in translational research, focusing on innovative pharmacological design and development of novel compounds for human use. He is leading the Module in Pharmacovigilance following Professor Aronson’s tenure since 2015.

Course aims

The course has been designed to:

  • introduce students to concepts of adverse drug reactions in terms of epidemiology and classification, mechanisms and monitoring and prevention
  • enable students to undertake systematic reviews of adverse drug reactions
  • enable students to understand and analyse drug interactions in terms of epidemiology, mechanisms and prevention
  • enable students to appreciate beneficial drug interactions using combinations of drugs
  • enable students to understand and use pharmacovigilance methodologies.

 

Teaching methods

The course will be taught by a range of scientists leading these areas of research, and there will be significant time programmed to discuss the scientific and sometimes ethical issues raised by this area of medical research. It will include group work, discussions, guest lectures, and interaction and feedback with tutors and lecturers.

A virtual learning environment (VLE) and access to some of the University of Oxford’s online resources will provide support for those taking the course for credit.

Assessment methods

Assessment will be based on submission of a set written assignment, not exceeding 4,000 words. The assessment is only undertaken by those taking the course for academic credit.

Academic credit

Those wishing to may apply to take the course with accreditation. The University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education offers Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points for the course. Participants attending at least 75% of the taught course and successfully completing assessed assignments are eligible to earn credit equivalent to 20 CATS-equivalent points which may be counted towards a postgraduate qualification.

Application

Application deadline: two weeks before the start of the course.

This course requires you to complete the online application form (please press the 'Apply' button on the top right pane), and submit a copy of your CV as an attachment as part of your application.

 If you are applying to take this course for academic credit you will also need to complete section two of the reference form and forward it to your referee for completion, to return to expther@conted.ox.ac.uk. Please note that if you are not applying to take the course for academic credit then you do not need to submit a reference.

Level and demands

The course will appeal to health professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, including: qualified doctors, especially specialist registrars in clinical pharmacology or in training for other medical sub-specialities; clinical research fellows; pharmacists; nurses; graduates working in the pharmaceutical industry or in academic clinical trials.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available at the Rewley House Residential Centre, within the Department for Continuing Education, in central Oxford. The comfortable, en-suite, study-bedrooms have been rated as 4-Star Campus accommodation under the Quality In Tourism scheme, and come with tea- and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi access and Freeview TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.

IT requirements

This course uses the Department’s online assignment submission system and online courseware. In order to participate in the course, and to prepare and submit your course assignments you will need access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification. Students of this course may use the student computing facilities provided in Departmental buildings.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support