PhD in Experimental Therapeutics
Experimental therapeutics is the integration of basic and applied sciences focused on the study and development of new treatments for human disease. Research in experimental therapeutics seeks to understand human diseases from the molecular level to the whole organism in order to develop rational approaches for new pharmacological treatments. In addition, experimental therapeutics includes the development of new therapies through systematic investigation at increasing levels of complexity ranging from individual molecules and proteins, to cellular and tissue based assays and to the whole organism. The purpose of the program is to train students at the doctoral level who can translate discoveries in the laboratory to therapies in a clinical setting.
Satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy or a related discipline is required.
The ability to excel in graduate studies and research must be evident based on grades from undergraduate studies, recommendations from college faculty and performance in research and independent study. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission, but it is highly recommended that a score be submitted for international students.
Students with M.S. degrees in pharmacology or related fields (e.g., pharmaceutical sciences) may be also admitted to the program. However, they are expected to have a minimum of 30 credits at the Master's level prior to accruing doctoral level credits.
Ph.D. students need to complete the following required courses at the 5000 to 8000 level as partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D. degree. The course level is determined by the number of graduate credits completed at the time of registering for that particular course.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHCL 5700 | Pharmacology I: Principles of Pharmacology, Autonomic Pharmacology and Related Pharmacology 1 | 3 |
| PHCL 5100/7100 | Experimental Therapeutics I | 3 |
| PHCL 5200/7200 | Experimental Therapeutics II | 3 |
| PHCL 5770/7770 | Current Topics in Toxicology I 2 | 1 |
| PHCL 6650/8650 | Seminar in Experimental Therapeutics (Minimum 6 hours required) | 2 |
| PHCL 5460/7460 | Current Topics in Pharmacokinetics Toxicokinetics 3 | 1 |
| PHCL 5440/7440 | Current Topics in Interpretation of Pharmaceutical Data 4 | 1 |
| PHCL 6300/8300 | Research Experience in Experimental Therapeutics 5 | 2-6 |
| PHCL 8960 | Dissertation Research in Experimental Therapeutics 6 | 1-15 |
| MBC 6190/8190 | Advanced Medicinal Chemistry | 4 |
| or PHCL 5500/7500 | From Experimental to Applied Therapeutics | |
| INDI 6020/8020 | On Being a Scientist | 1 |
- 1
Not required if this same course, or PHCL 3700 or equivalent was taken previously. If taken by Masters' students admitted to the program with eligibility to take 7/8 level courses, the PHCL 5700 credit will not count toward those credits required for the Ph.D. degree.
- 2
Requires PHCL 4730 or PHCL 5730 as pre-requisite or PHCL 5730 as co-requisite. If PHCL 5730 taken by Masters' students admitted to the program with eligibility to take 7/8 level courses, the credit for this course will not count toward those required for the Ph.D. degree.
- 3
Requires PHCL 4760 or PHCL 5760 as pre-requisite or PHCL 5760 as co-requisite. If PHCL 5760 taken by Masters' students admitted to the program with eligibility to take 7/8 level courses, the credit for this course will not count toward those required for the Ph.D. degree.
- 4
Requires PHCL 5140 as pre- or co-requisite. If taken by Masters' students admitted to the program with eligibility to take 7/8 level courses, the credit for this course will not count toward those required for the Ph.D. degree.
- 5
To fulfill the required laboratory rotations, a minimum of 4 hours must be taken in two different sections of the course (2 hours in each).
- 6
A minimum of 30 hours is required.
General Elective Courses
In addition to the required courses, general elective courses may be selected from the following. The course level to be taken is dependent on the number of graduate credits earned at the time of registration for that particular course:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHCL 5750 | Toxicology II | 3 |
| PHCL 5990 | Problems In Pharmacology | 1-6 |
| PHCL 6390/8390 | Problems in Experimental Therapeutics | 1-6 |
| MBC 5620/7620 | Biochemical Techniques | 2 |
| MBC 5380 | Medicinal And Poisonous Plants | 3 |
| MBC 6100/8100 | Advanced Immunology | 2 |
| MBC 6550/8550 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 6510/8510 | Protein Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 6520/8520 | Enzymology | 4 |
| CHEM 6530/8530 | Nucleic Acid Chemistry | 4 |
| BIOL 6010/8010 | Advanced Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 6090/8090 | Advanced Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 6100/8100 | Research Methodology: Cell And Molecular Biology | 3 |
Specialized Elective Courses
Specialized elective courses are recommended for students with concentrations in different areas of the program, and may be selected from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMSP 6340/8340 | Curr Prob Res App Genes/Genom | 2 |
| BMSP 6330/8330 | Current Problems and Research Approaches in Proteins | 2.5 |
| BMSP 6340/8340 | Curr Prob Res App Genes/Genom | 2.5 |
| BMSP 6360/8360 | Current Problems and Research Approaches in Cell Membranes | 3 |
| BIOE 5620 | Cellular Electrophysiology | 3 |
Other elective courses may be taken with the approval of the department graduate committee.
Additional Requirements
In addition, all students must satisfy the following:
- Minimum of 90 semester hours of graduate credit, including a minimum of 30 semesters hours at the Masters level, and a Minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s level. The required minimum 60 credits beyond the Masters level should include a minimum of 30 hours of Ph.D. dissertation research.
- Students admitted with a minimum of 30 semester hours at a Masters level should sign up for 7/8 level classes, if their Masters degree was conferred by a USA university. Students admitted with a Bachelor’s degree or a foreign graduate degree should sign up for 5/6 level classes for the first 30 credit, and for 7/8 level classes thereafter.
- With the approval of the department graduate committee, certain courses taken in a foreign university may be considered as equivalent to some of the program courses or for full-filling pre-requisite requirements
- A grade of B- or higher is expected to be maintained for the required courses. A grade of B- or higher is also required for all of the pre-requisite courses.
- A cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained.
- Satisfactory overall performance is expected on a written qualifying examination, which is administered after completion of the required graduate courses for that exam. The qualifying examination covers the following graduate courses, including their pre- and/or co-requisites:
Course List Code Title Hours PHCL 5100/7100 Experimental Therapeutics I 3 PHCL 5200/7200 Experimental Therapeutics II 3 PHCL 5770/7770 Current Topics in Toxicology I 1 PHCL 5440/7440 Current Topics in Interpretation of Pharmaceutical Data 1 - Selection of a doctoral research adviser, preparation of an acceptable written Ph.D. dissertation proposal in consultation with the adviser, and the satisfactory oral defense of the proposal before the dissertation advisory committee. The written qualifying examination and the defense of the dissertation proposal will constitute the examination requirements necessary for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. in Experimental Therapeutics. The chair of the doctoral dissertation advisory committee will be the student’s doctoral research adviser. The dissertation advisory committee will consist of at least two additional faculty members plus one member from outside the student’s department or college.
- Subsequent to admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, the student is expected to spend a minimum of two semesters in full-time study at The University of Toledo.
- Preparation of a Ph.D. dissertation based on the results of an original research investigation performed by the student during his/her Ph.D. program at The University of Toledo.
- Successful oral defense of the dissertation before the dissertation advisory committee and presentation of the results of the dissertation research in a seminar before the department of pharmacology.
- Acceptance of the dissertation by the Ph.D. dissertation adviser and the dissertation advisory committee.
2) Design, implement, and analyze the results of an independent research project in the respective discipline.
3) Effectively communicate and defend research findings orally and in writing.
4) Describe and comply with standards of ethical conduct of research, including the use of experimental subjects
5) Effectively work in a team of colleagues within the discipline
6) Teach and mentor other researcher
7) Write a competitive application for research funding
8) Produce publishable research