UB to offer MS degree in pharmacometrics and personalized pharmacotherapy

Beginning this fall, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will offer an innovative MS program in pharmacometrics and personalized pharmacotherapy.

The new program is one of the only “seated” — classroom-based — programs in the country offering this unique course content. The program will allow graduates to advance the progression of precision drugs and medications, furthering development of individualized therapies.

“This unique program draws on the strengths of our school and offers both theoretical training and hands-on experience,” says Dean James M. O'Donnell. “It provides an excellent opportunity for PharmD students to augment their education, as well as for pharmacy and pharmaceutical science graduates in academia, regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry to gain new skills.”

The program is directed by SUNY Distinguished Professor William Jusko, an internationally renowned pharmaceutical scientist and expert in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical pharmacology and quantitative pharmacology.

The program focuses on advanced training in pharmacometric principles of advanced pharmacokinetics — the study of absorption, distribution metabolism and excretion of drugs — and pharmacodynamics — the study of drug effects and toxicity in treatment of diseases. Conceptual training, combined with hands-on computational training integrating health and biomedical data, will allow students to partner with internationally renowned faculty in high-level research and garner real-world job experience, while still completing coursework.

“Pharmacometricians play a critical role in drug discovery and development in research institutes, pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies and academia,” says Donald Mager, professor and vice chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. “Students in this program will master the skills to optimize drug therapy, allowing for the provision of precision medicine and individualized therapies.”