Could this happen? It's one of the scenarios that pharmacology students
are working towards.
Ancient civilizations recognized that certain plants and plant extracts
healed wounds and brought pain relief. This began a quest to discover, create
and research medicines to better man's existence and bring longer life.
It also created the foundation for the science of pharmacology as it exists
today.
Pharmacologists shouldn't be confused with pharmacists. Pharmacologists
reveal the secrets of drug actions. They discover new therapies and create
new medicinal products.
Once a drug passes the tests, it moves on to the pharmacist. A pharmacist
works in the pharmacy in your local drugstore. He or she is responsible for
preparing and dispensing medicine. Pharmacists may also answer any questions
you might have about the medication.
The employment outlook for pharmacologists is excellent, based on the great
number of new chemicals for use in industry and medicine. That's according
to the Florida Health Careers website.
The site says pharmacologists will investigate drug use in treating diseases
such as AIDS, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, central nervous system disorders
and muscular dystrophy.
According to the University of Western Ontario's career information, pharmacology
involves the:
- Study of how drugs work at the cellular and molecular level
- Use of drugs as tools to dissect aspects of cell function
- Development of new synthetic drugs to improve on existing drugs or to
treat new human conditions which will respond to drug treatment
- Formulation of clinical guidelines for the safe and effective use of drugs
Pharmacologists are one part of the broad field of medical and biological
science. The OOH says jobs for biological scientists will as fast as average
through 2014. But there will be competition for basic researching positions.
Pharmacology is very closely associated with toxicology. Both are experimental
sciences. Pharmacologists research the actions and effects of drugs on living
systems. Toxicologists research the extent of the toxic effects of molecules
on living cells and organisms.
Renee Suen is a student in a toxicology specialist program. She is also
president of the Pharmacology and Toxicology Association. "There are so many
options one can go in: drug development, synthesis, testing," says Suen.
"And with the current status of health care, and our continual use of medical
treatments for a variety of conditions, it can be easy to see how there is
a demand for pharmacologists, not only for the development of these drugs
but also to evaluate their safety."
Mary Michaelis is a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the University
of Kansas. She believes that many students are attracted to the field because
of the "medical nature of the field where they can do research that has the
potential applications in medicine, but it's still focused more on research."
Pharmacologists spend a lot of time performing experiments and studying
the effects. They are involved in several types of research. Biological research
is carried out using experimental animals such as mice and rats. Most of this
type of experimental research is done in universities or research institutes.
Suen recognizes that the career path she has chosen is challenging. "There
is a constant challenge for more discoveries, which for me is a key factor,"
she says.
"Pharmacology's immediate imprint on me was that it is new, hot, booming
and in demand. That's always a comforting thing to know, especially with the
current concern that one cannot do much after finishing a science degree."
Jobs are easy to find for pharmacology majors because of their specific
knowledge.
Michaelis tells of the specific areas that pharmacology majors study. "They
learn the basics of cell biology, physiology, and then of course the mechanisms
of drug actions. So they have to learn about all the different types of drugs
-- antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs -- before they specialize in their own research
programs," she says.
"Students specialize when they actually work on their dissertation research
programs. They could be working in central nervous system, cardiovascular,
molecular pharmacology or molecular toxicology."
Michaelis notes that pharmacologists usually need doctorate degrees. Yet
she adds that "there are some positions in the pharmaceutical industry or
biotechnology where master's degrees are highly sought after, but a number
of people, of course, do want to go on to the PhD. It gives them a little
more independence."
Suen tends to agree. "I know that in general, most majors of pharmacology
do continue on with school. Some end up as professors. Some go on to work
in the drug industry. Some, I have heard, have the opportunity to go into
industry practically right after undergraduate studies."
Pharmacologists are comfortable with, and quite enjoy, conducting research.
All those years spent working toward an advanced degree in pharmacology aren't
a problem. They love their work. They love unlocking the mysteries of the
effects of drugs on living systems.