Course coordinator
Dr Prasad Chunduri
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Biomedical Sciences School
BIOM2052 (Integrated Physiology & Pharmacology for Dentistry) extends from the anatomy & physiology learnt in BIOM1052. This knowledge then forms the basis for understanding pharmacology, with relevance to dentistry where possible
The course revisits physiology of several body systems, but major emphasis is placed on understanding general principles of pharmacology as well as drugs relevant to various body systems. BIOM2052 ﾠprovides an introduction to general pharmacology and then leads into systems pharmacology, with relevance to dentistry where applicable.ﾠ
You should bring a pair of safety goggles with you for all practical classes in this course. You will be expected to wear your safety goggles in wet labs, where you conduct experiments. Lab coats and enclosed shoes are compulsory for the entire duration in the laboratory for all practical classes.
Course requirements
Assumed background
A good knowledge of anatomy and physiology of various organ systems, as covered in the first year course BIOM1052.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
BIOM1052
Restrictions
Restricted to students enrolled in the BDSc (Hons) program only
Course contact
School enquiries
Student and Academic Administration Team
The SBMS Student and Academic Administration Team is located on Level 1 of the Sir William Macgregor Building (64-130)
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Prasad Chunduri
Associate Professor Lisa Kaminskas
Dr Jacky Suen
Dr Niwanthi Rajapakse
Associate Professor Karin Borges
Dr Lachlan Rash
Dr Mary-Louise Roy Manchadi
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
BIOM2052 aims to provide an advanced understanding of physiology of the major body systems and further include the study of pharmacology of drugs of relevance to the practice of dentistry.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain the essential biological basis governing normal processes in the body (physiology).
LO2.
Describe the basis of pharmacology and the principles of treatment of various body system disorders.
LO3.
Explain how pharmacological principles and drug treatments apply to dentistry.
LO4.
Describe how physiological and pharmacological experiments are conducted in the laboratory.
LO5.
Integrate the concepts of physiology and pharmacology to a body system, in health or disease.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Practical Module 1 (Organ Baths) | 20% |
Friday 9 May 12.30pm for P01; Friday 9 May 3.30pm for P02. |
| Quiz |
Practical Module 2 (Respiratory system)
|
10% |
23/05/2025 1:00 pm
Quiz at the end of prac. |
| Quiz |
Practical Module 3 (Nervous System)
|
10% |
30/05/2025 2:00 pm
Quiz at the end of prac. |
| Examination |
End of Semester Exam
|
60% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
Assessment details
Practical Module 1 (Organ Baths)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Friday 9 May 12.30pm for P01;
Friday 9 May 3.30pm for P02.
Task description
This practical report encompasses the results of experiments performed as part of organ bath pracs 1 and 2 and is worth 20%.
This task has been designed to refine students' understanding of pharmacodynamics and exemplify the properties and behaviour of drug agonists and antagonists that are relevant to the dentistry profession. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Details of the assessment format and marking criteria will be provided through the course Blackboard site.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Assessment task, with the electronic coversheet available on the Schools website, to Turnitin by the submission deadline.
You may submit drafts to Turnitin up to the due date, but you will only be able to submit once on or after the due date.
You should also keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Requests for extension must be made prior to the submission deadline, even if you are awaiting your supporting documentation. Late requests for extension will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.
If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties uploading your submission, please email a copy of your assessment to sbms@enquire.uq.edu.au so this can be logged on your behalf before the due date.
Practical Module 2 (Respiratory system)
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
23/05/2025 1:00 pm
Quiz at the end of prac.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
This online quiz will contain 5 MCQs worth 2 points each. The quiz will be conducted at the end of the spirometry practical.
This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct..
Submission guidelines
Quiz conducted in-class via the Course Blackboard site.
We recommend that you do not use the Blackboard Phone App or any insecure wireless network connection when completing this Blackboard assessment. Both are unstable and could affect your ability to complete your Blackboard assessment, by for example:
- you may lose connectivity and lose the work you have completed;
- your submission could indicate you have completed your assessment task, but nothing has been delivered into BlackBoard.
Please ensure that you only use a reliable internet connection.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Requests for extension must be made prior to the submission deadline, even if you are awaiting your supporting documentation. Late requests for extension will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.
If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension.
Late submission
No late submissions possible.
Practical Module 3 (Nervous System)
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
30/05/2025 2:00 pm
Quiz at the end of prac.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
This online quiz will contain 10 MCQs worth 1 point each. The quiz will be conducted at the end of the nervous system online (Zoom) practical session.
This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Quiz conducted in-class via the Course Blackboard site.
We recommend that you do not use the Blackboard Phone App or any insecure wireless network connection when completing this Blackboard assessment. Both are unstable and could affect your ability to complete your Blackboard assessment, by for example:
- you may lose connectivity and lose the work you have completed;
- your submission could indicate you have completed your assessment task, but nothing has been delivered into BlackBoard.
Please ensure that you only use a reliable internet connection.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Requests for extension must be made prior to the submission deadline, even if you are awaiting your supporting documentation. Late requests for extension will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.
If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension.
Late submission
No late submissions possible.
End of Semester Exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
The end of semester exam will be based on content covered in all of the lecture modules and overlapping practical content. The exam will be for 90 marks total, with a combination of different question types, covering each module of the course giving a total of 90 marks for the 90 min exam. The allocation of marks to each module will be roughly based on the number of lectures in that module.
The exam will be a closed book, online exam undertaken via the Inspera eAssessment platform. Students will be required to bring a laptop to the exam that meets the device requirements for Inspera. It is important that you check before the exam that your laptop meets the device requirements for using the Inspera Assessment platform. If you do not own a suitable laptop, you can borrow one from the Library. The Library website Get familiar with Inspera provides the latest information for students about using Inspera. Further information about the exam and format will be provided on Blackboard.
Have your UQ student ID card available for all of your exams.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | Casio FX82 series calculator only |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items ofﾠ 0% - 29% |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items ofﾠ 30% - 44% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items ofﾠ 45% - 49% |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items ofﾠ 50% - 64% |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items ofﾠ 65% - 74% |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items ofﾠ 75% - 84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items ofﾠ 85% - 100% |
Additional course grading information
No assessment items are compulsory. A mark of zero will be recorded if an assessment item is not submitted. Penalties apply for late submission unless there is an approved extension date.ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Information onﾠapplying for an assessment extensionﾠcan be found on theﾠApplying for an extension website.
Information onﾠapplying for a deferred examﾠcan be found on theﾠDeferring an exam website.
Information onﾠassessment re-mark requestsﾠcan be found on theﾠQuerying a result website.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | Clean white laboratory coat, safety glasses and fully enclosed shoes. Students will not be permitted in the laboratory without these items. Each student must have their UQ Student Identification Card visibly displayed above the waist. While public health directions no longer require face masks to be worn, they are recommended when you cannot physically distance, you are a vulnerable person or caring for vulnerable people. Please note that cloth masks are not acceptable in laboratory classes in the School of Biomedical Sciences. PPE and identification card holders can be purchased from the School Locker. | own item needed |
Additional learning resources information
This course covers content from a collection of physiology and pharmacology textbooks. Each course contributor will be best placed to explain the requirement for their own modules(s).
You should be able to find copies of all the relevant textbooks from the UQ library. There is no requirement to buy any of the books yourself.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 2 |
Lecture |
Module 1: Intro to Pharmacology [Kaminskas] Module 1 has 5 lectures and will be given in Weeks 1 and 2 (no lecture on the Friday of Week 2). |
Multiple weeks From Week 3 To Week 4 |
Lecture |
Module 2: Endocrinology [Chunduri] Module 2 has 6 lectures and will take all the lecture slots of Weeks 3 and 4. |
Multiple weeks From Week 5 To Week 6 |
Lecture |
Module 3: Cardiovascular and Renal [Rajapakse] Module 3 will have 5 lectures running over Weeks 5 and 6 (no Friday lecture in Week 6) |
Multiple weeks From Week 5 To Week 7 |
Practical |
Prac Module 1: Organ Baths [Kaminskas] Organ Baths practicals run over Weeks 5-7. See your personal timetable for exact days and times. In Week 5, all students attend Virtual Ileum prac in the same session . In Weeks 6 and 7, students will attend either P1 OR P02 for their wet labs, based on individual sign-on. |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
Module 4: Respiratory Physiol & Pharmacol [Suen and Kaminskas] Module 4 deals with Respiratory Physiology & Pharmacology and takes all 3 lectures of Week 7. Dr Jacky Suen will give the 1st of the 3 lectures on respiratory physiology (important also for the spirometry practical later) and A/Prof. Lisa Kaminskas will give the remaining 2 lectures on respiratory pharmacology for the module. |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
Module 5: Gastrointestinal Pharmacology [Borges] GI Pharmacology takes the double-lecture of Tuesday in Week 8 |
Multiple weeks From Week 9 To Week 10 |
Lecture |
Module 6: Antimicrobials [Rash] Module 6 has 4 lectures and will be given on the Tuesdays of Weeks 9 and 10. No lectures on Fridays of those 2 weeks. |
Multiple weeks From Week 11 To Week 12 |
Lecture |
Module 7: Nervous System [Roy Manchadi] Module 7 will have 5 lectures, and will run in Weeks 11 and 12 (no lecture on Friday of Week 12). Lectures conclude at the end of Week 12. |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Practical |
Prac Module 2: Respiratory System Spirometry prac for all students on Friday of Week 12 from 10am-1pm in Building 64 Labs. |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Practical |
Prac Module 3: Nervous System I [Roy Manchadi] Anaesthetics prac (Online class via Zoom) for all students on Friday of Week 13 from 11am-2pm. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: