Education

Existing and Planned Activities in Toxicology Education

The participation in the Centre of three Universities (Basel, Lausanne & Geneva), including three Faculties of Medicine and two Schools of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and two Technical Universities (HES) provides a unique chance to build pre- and postgraduate human toxicology education tracks. The participation in the Centre of several founding &/or regular members of the Lemanic Network of Toxicology (LNT), of the Centre of Competence in Chemical & Toxicological Analytics (CCCTA) and of the teaching platform of the European Centre of Pharmaceutical Medicine in Basel (ECPM) confirms outstanding teaching capabilities in toxicology within the Centre. Planned activities include the creation of specialized master courses (MAS) for toxicology in the Lemanic and the Basel regions and modules in post-graduate formation for toxicologists (Euro-Tox modules). Such courses will be coordinated by the Centre and organized in collaboration with the participating groups and Institutions, the Swiss Society of Toxicology and the local Industries in Basel and in the Lemanic region (Pharma, Biotech and Chemical Industries).

Existing Activities

1. Under-graduate education
Members of the Centre are already offering many lectures and seminars in toxicology at the pre-graduate level. In Basel, lectures in general toxicology and in cancer toxicology as well as seminars in toxicological problem solving, practical work in pharmacology and toxicology and the possibility to perform master theses in toxicology are offered mainly to students in pharmaceutical sciences.

In Geneva and Lausanne, lectures in toxicology are included in the curricula for students of medicine and of pharmaceutical sciences. All the groups included in the application are involved in teaching activities covering mainly the aspects of their research areas and other aspects of toxicology.

In the Geneva School of engineering (EIG), the focus in teaching is on nanotoxicology. The School for Life Sciences at the FHNW Muttenz teaches all aspects of human toxicology

2. Post-graduate education
In Basel, lectures provided at this level include “Essentials in toxicology” (a lecture series covering the whole field of toxicology over 3 years), „Toxicology and Pathology“ (4 meetings a year organized by University and Industry), “Seminars in molecular toxicology” (problem-oriented discussions of toxicological subjects among research groups of the University of Basel and of the Pharmaceutical Industry) and “Seminars in Drug Discovery & Development” (a Lecture cycle organized by the Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences covering aspects of the entire drug development process, including also preclinical and clinical toxicology). In addition, a modular course named „Key Issues in Drug Discovery & Development“ (an introduction into drug discovery and toxicology for PhD students; one of 7 modules is preclinical toxicology) is provided. The European Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine (ECPM) in Basel is currently developing the “ECPM learning platform”, which is going to offer Eurotox modules in drug safety and human toxicology.
In Lausanne, the laboratory of Neurotoxicology offers a course in experimental neurotoxicology which is open for students in medicine, pharmaceutical sciences or biology on a post-graduate level. Clinical toxicology and other aspects of toxicology, manly the areas of research, are also teach on a post-graduate level at both locations. All the laboratories involved offer PhD studentships.

Future Activities
Teaching is not only important for the formation of new toxicologists, but also for bringing together the different students and teachers of the Centre. We will therefore organize an annual meeting entitled “Research days in Toxicology”. PhD students and Postdocs engaged in the laboratories participating in the Centre and from other laboratories in Switzerland as well as from the Swiss pharmaceutical industry will present their research findings in the form of posters and/or lectures.

One of the most important aims is the development of a Master Curriculum in Toxicology on the pregraduate level in Basel and in the Lemanic region (collaboration between Lausanne and Geneva). This master curriculum will last 3 semesters (90 credit points) and will include lectures, seminars and courses, and practical work in the Pharmaceutical Industry or in an University facility (master thesis). The organization of the courses and the course program for the Basel region and the Lemanic region are specified below. There will be a close collaboration between the two regions in order to ensure a homogenous pregrauduate formation in toxicology in Switzerland.

Another important aim is the postgraduate formation of toxicologists according to Euro-Tox regulations. To be registered as an Euro-compatible toxicologist, 12 modules in toxicology have to be performed (see www.swisstox.ch). Presently, only two such modules are offered in Switzerland (“drug safety” in Basel and “drug metabolism” in Zürich). Most of these modules have therefore currently to be obtained in other European countries such as Germany. We will try to offer as many modules as possible in our Centre and will collaborate with the University of Zurich to be able to offer the entire program in Switzerland. The ECPM learning platform will play an important role in these teaching activities, since the ECPM has a large experience in organizing and conducting such courses. The courses will be provided by members of the Centre and by representatives of the Swiss Pharmaceutical Industry and the Regulatory Authorities, and with the support of the Swiss Society of Toxicology.

Last Updated on Thursday, 08 April 2010 10:05 Created: Thursday, 05 February 2009 14:05