The Department of Pharmacology at Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine leads innovative research and education in pharmacology, the study of how drugs affect the body. Pharmacology investigates the actions of a wide range of substances, from endogenous molecules such as hormones and neurotransmitters to therapeutic drugs. Closely connected with foundational disciplines such as physiology, biochemistry, immunology, and molecular biology, pharmacology plays a central role in achieving the clinical goal of disease treatment.

In education, an all-physician faculty employs innovative teaching methods, including case-based learning, Team-Based Learning (TBL), and computer-simulated training, to enhance students’ pharmacological knowledge and teamwork skills. For undergraduates, the department offers ongoing research projects to motivate students during their basic medical training and to nurture future basic medical scientists as well as clinically competent researchers. Graduate students benefit from collaborative research opportunities with other basic and clinical departments, fostering experimental skills and a solid understanding of pharmacology and clinical pharmacology. Scholarship programs further alleviate students’ financial burdens, allowing them to focus on study and research.

The department possesses top-tier research capabilities in the country. Major research areas include neuropharmacology studies for treating intractable neurological disorders such as epilepsy, investigations into Golgi protein function and its relationship with aging and tumorigenesis, and the development of human organ-mimicking experimental models using advanced techniques such as organoids and microphysiological systems. Pharmacokinetic studies of drug absorption, distribution, and metabolism in healthy individuals and patient populations, as well as pharmacodynamic research that elucidates cellular and molecular mechanisms of drug action to understand disease pathophysiology, are actively pursued. Particularly, quantitative pharmacology research applying nonlinear mixed-effects models and various statistical methods enables integrated analysis and prediction of drug responses and interindividual variability, informing optimal clinical trial design and efficient drug development strategies. The department regularly publishes its findings in top domestic and international journals in neuropharmacology, gastrointestinal pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, and quantitative pharmacology.

Major Activities

• Neuropharmacology - Conducting research on the mechanisms of drug action in the nervous system to develop therapies for intractable brain diseases such as epilepsy.
• Advanced research techniques - Utilizing organoid technology and microphysiological systems to model human organs and study drug effects in physiologically relevant environments.
• Quantitative pharmacology - Applying nonlinear mixed-effects modeling to predict drug responses and optimize clinical trial design.
• Drug discovery and development - Establishing efficient drug development strategies and determining optimal dosing regimens through pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies and clinical trials.
• Innovative educational methods - Providing medical practice education using team-based learning (TBL), case-based learning, and computer simulations, and operating training programs for professionals in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries.
• Industry-academia-research collaboration - Engaging in active basic and clinical research collaborations, as well as advisory and cooperative projects with the pharmaceutical industry.