Pharmacology is the branch of science that seeks to provide a deep understanding of the effects of drugs on the human body. This major will provide an appreciation of how drugs produce changes in such key bodily functions as blood pressure, lung performance or pain perception. Students will learn how common drugs target specific receptors in body tissues, exerting effects as either agonists or antagonists. Students will also explore the major biochemical pathways that are activated when drugs interact with their respective receptors. Other key topics include pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, drug dependence, toxicology, pharmacogenomics and drug discovery. This course also provides a basis for further training in pharmacology leading to a research career or to further study in complementary fields such as pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy and science education. Since pharmacology is a very practical area of science, theoretical concepts from lectures are reinforced and expanded upon during regular lab classes. The Pharmacology and Anesthesiology Unit is well equipped for the latest methods of pharmacology teaching and research. At University of Western Australia students are being taught by excellent lecturers who are actively engaged in modern biomedical research.