Keele Badge

LSC-20061 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 16 September 2026

LSC-20061 - Neuropharmacology
Coordinator: Samaneh - Preferred Ella Maysami Room: HUX-304 Tel: 01782 733671
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

By the end of this module, you will be able to discuss how medications that are aimed to treat neurological and mental disorders would usually apply their effects (e.g., binding to specific substrates).
You will be able to critically appraise preclinical trials (in models of disease) and evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention in the clinic (clinical trials).
You will be able to explain absorption, metabolism, solubility, ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, clearance (excretion and secretion), and toxicity (ADMET) of a drug of choice in neuroscience.
You will be able to discuss about drug-receptor interactions, dose-response (concentration response in models of disease) and how presence of confounding factors could alter distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs systemically or within the nervous system.
You will also be able to link basic principles of neuropharmacology, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic index with wider disciplines such as population health, health economics, and neuroanatomy.
Finally, you will be able to critically evaluate advances made in neuropharmacology towards precision therapy and personalised medicine in recent years.

Aims
Students will learn about the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of medications used to treat neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases and disorders. They will learn about the pathways involved in drug discovery and novel approaches in treatment and management of neuropsychiatric illnesses.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/lsc-20061/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Describe the biochemical basis and molecular mechanisms by which drugs regulate the neurotransmission to treat neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders in the preclinical and clinical settings: 1,2
Compare and contrast the therapeutic values, adverse-effects and/or side-effects of drugs: 1,2
Discuss how various classes of drugs can induce changes in the neuronal signalling to affect mood and behaviour or cause dependency or addiction: 2
Communicate findings from analyses of journal articles orally or in writing in their assessments in accordance with professional conventions in neuroscience: 1,2
Discuss the pathways in drug discovery and development in neuroscience from research and development to clinical trials: 1,2

Study hours

10hr lectures
10hr tutorials
2x1hr technology enhanced workshops to discuss assessment strategies (i.e., w3 for assessment 1 and w9 for assessment 2)
128 hr independent learning (lecture notes, Panopto recordings, reading list resources, etc)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Paper weighted 50%
Video Presentation of Research Journal Article Analysis
In this assessment, each student will create a 5-minute video presentation analysing a recent research journal article selected by the module lead. The presentation should include an introduction and background, providing a brief overview of the article's context and significance; a discussion of one of the methods used in the research; an interpretation of the results related to the chosen method and how they align with the overall aims of the research; and a critical discussion regarding the findings and their implications. Note: AI-generated content is not permitted. You may use PowerPoint or other university approved software.

2: Assignment weighted 50%
Integrated essay of 1000 words
Students will receive three topic titles midway through the semester and will be required to select one integrated academic essay from this selection to submit towards the end of the semester. The essay will reflect on topics discussed throughout the semester and incorporate insights from research journal articles. Typical submissions will be approximately 1,000 words in length and all ILOs must be covered as applicable. Once the selection period has closed, the chosen title for the academic essay cannot be changed.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 16 September 2026