Welcome to Pharmacology
The Department of Pharmacology is one of the pre-clinical science departments that form part of the University’s Medical Sciences Division and is focused on basic life sciences research, undergraduate teaching for medicine and biomedical sciences students and the training and development of graduate students.
Latest News
EMA approval of IntraBio’s Aqneursa marks a major milestone for the Department of Pharmacology, with further Phase 3 success in Ataxia Telangiectasia
23 January 2026
On 21 January, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved Aqneursa, a new treatment for Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC) in adults and children, marking a major milestone for research originating in the Department of Pharmacology. Aqneursa already received US FDA approval (September 2024), enabling patient access on both sides of the Atlantic.
Top of the QS World University Rankings for Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2019-2021
Founded in 1898
20 research groups
50+ graduate students
Research
The Department of Pharmacology is at the forefront of research into the effects of drugs and other molecules on biological systems with a view to understanding the mechanisms of the human body. Pre-clinical research in the Department aims to examine cellular and molecular pathways in living systems as the first step towards a greater understanding of disease and effective treatment.
Teaching
Academic staff in the Department lead lectures, seminars and tutorials for undergraduate students on the Medicine and Biomedical Sciences courses. The Department also hosts an internationally-renowned one-year MSc taught course in Pharmacology and has a community of around 40 DPhil students.
