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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

This figure illustrates the multiscale platform used for the discovery and validation of PAK1 kinase activators. The approach begins with PAK1-activating peptide as a guide to identify potential binding sites for virtual screening of small-molecule activators. Hits are then validated using mass spectrometry-based assays to confirm PAK1 activation, and further characterised through biophysical and structural studies to elucidate the mechanism of action. Finally, the therapeutic potential of the PAK1 activators is evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo models of cardiac hypertrophy.

Oxford-led study reveals new way to activate protein kinases, opening new therapeutic possibilities

Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a new strategy to activate protein kinases — a major class of enzymes that regulate essential cellular processes — offering a potential pathway to treat diseases where current therapies remain limited.

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.

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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.

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Forthcoming events

Organelle Pharmacology – a new frontier for drug discovery (15-16 April 2026)

Wednesday, 15 April 2026 to Thursday, 16 April 2026, 9am - 4pm

EM Facilities Showcase

Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 1pm to 2.30pm

Host: Dr Emily Eden

Targeting RNA with synthetic small molecules: scope and applications

Tuesday, 28 April 2026, 12pm to 1pm

Speaker(s): Dr Maria Duca (Université Côte d'Azur)

Host: Professor Angela Russell

Members of the Department have published 937 papers between 2013 and 2022

Recent publications

Full annual lists

We are part of Oxford Medical Sciences