Why study Pharmacology and Toxicology?
Most people are interested in pharmacology because drugs occupy such a prominent place in everyday life. Constant progress in medicine involves the design of new drugs that can cure cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders and other medical conditions.
Pharmacology incorporates and applies a variety of biological sciences, such as biochemistry, chemistry, physiology, microbiology and genetics. Unlike pharmacy, which is about the preparation and dispensing of drugs, pharmacology is the science behind how drugs produce their effects on the body and what the body does to the drugs. Pharmacology also plays a key role in developing drugs of the future.
Toxicology at Otago examines the harmful effects of chemicals on the human body, as well as understanding the impact of chemicals on the environment and in our food supply.
A good knowledge of pharmacology and toxicology is also an important part of the training of medical doctors, pharmacists, dentists, nurses and physiotherapists. Other scientists often find pharmacology useful in their own specialisation. For example, physiologists, biochemists, zoologists and psychologists may use drugs to understand the biological system or disease they are studying.
Career opportunities
Graduates of our department go on to a wide range of careers including research, governmental, administration, and advisory positions.
Major employers include the National Poisons Centre, MedSafe, Pharmac, the Ministry of Health, Crown Research Institutes, universities, and pharmaceutical companies.
Pharmacology and Toxicology are also popular choices for students seeking a career in the professional medical sciences (e.g. Medicine or Pharmacy) or those pursuing a double degree in Law, Commerce, or Education.
