Pharmacology is the scientific discipline that evolved in the 19th century as a new biomedical discipline that applied the principles of scientific experimentation to therapeutic contexts. This discipline attempts to improve health and alleviate disease, and studies the mechanisms by which drugs alter biological systems. Pharmacological studies range from those that determine the effects of chemical agents upon subcellular mechanisms to those that deal with the potential hazards of pesticides and herbicides, to those that focus on the treatment and prevention of major diseases by drug therapy. Toxicology is also branch of pharmacology that deals with the study of mechanisms by which drugs and chemicals in the environment produce unwanted effects. Together these disciplines encompass the molecular basis of drug action, the actions of drugs on cells, organs, and organisms, genetic variations in drug action, and drug discovery.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The scope of pharmacology is rapidly expanding for the discovery, and development and provides the rational basis for the therapeutic uses of new drugs. In its entirety, it embraces knowledge of the sources, chemical properties, biological effects, molecular mechanisms and therapeutic uses of drugs. Pharmacologists are also involved in molecular modeling of drugs, and the use of drugs as tools to dissect aspects of cell function. The scope of pharmacology has expanded exponentially over the last decade to incorporate many new approaches such as computer-assisted drug design, genetic screens, protein engineering and the use of novel drug delivery vehicles including viruses and artificial cells.
Trained Pharmacologists can look forward to rewarding Careers in Academia, Pharmaceutical Industries, Contract Research Organizations and in Drug Regulatory Agencies, in India and in Foreign Countries.