The Master of Science in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics (MCET) program provides multiple options for candidates to choose between a 1-year (non-thesis) and a 2-year (thesis) curriculum, which augments student development for multiple career opportunities in clinical practice or research. Core and elective courses within the MCET program would foster successful completion of PharmD or MD training programs. Current UGA College of Pharmacy students can pursue a 1-year Master’s (non-thesis) during P3 or P4 years or complete an additional year post-PharmD for a dual PharmD/MS degree. MCET program is also suitable for BS graduates looking to improve their chances for admission to a Pharmacy or Medical School (Year 1 curriculum) and for post-graduate trainees (PGY1 or PGY2 residents) who seek initiating an independent research program in academia (Year 2 curriculum).

Program Description

The purpose of the Program in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics (CET) is to provide graduate training in therapeutics-related research that directly connects the basic science laboratory with the clinical practice setting.

The CET Program provides interdisciplinary graduate training program in therapeutics and drug development research utilizing the combined resources of the University of Georgia and Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia.

This association facilitates interaction with the faculty of both institutions. Members encompass a variety of health-related backgrounds and education and include Pharm.D.s, M.D.s, and Ph.D.s. Their clinical as well as basic science expertise allows for a truly interdisciplinary and translational approach to graduate training.

While the course requirements for graduate students enrolled in the program cover both areas, research opportunities allow students to focus on either the experimental (basic) or clinical science track.

Research Opportunities in CET

One of the primary objectives of the CET program is to encourage and facilitate research in the pharmaceutical sciences. CET faculty members have made significant accomplishments in their respective areas of interest and their ongoing projects are supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and several pharmaceutical corporations.

Areas of expertise of CET faculty members include:

  • Pathogenesis and treatment of stroke
  • Pathogenesis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders
  • Pathogenesis and vascular biology of hypertension and diabetes-associated vascular complications
  • Vascular biology of obesity and metabolic syndrome on microvascular dysfunction
  • Disease mechanism and treatment of diabetic retinopathy
  • Disease mechanism and treatment of optic neuropathy
  • Molecular mechanisms regulating endothelial-barrier, vascular permeability and angiogenesis
  • Extracellular matrix remodeling and pulmonary fibrosis
  • Identification of potential therapeutic targets for prostate, bladder, and colorectal cancers
  • Diabetes, Atherosclerosis and Dysregulation of smooth muscle contractility
  • Molecular mechanisms regulating smooth muscle cell proliferation and contractile proteins
  • Smooth Muscle Biology and Glucose transporters

Students enrolled in the CET program will have the opportunity to rotate through several laboratories. The laboratory rotations allow students to explore different areas of research and help them ultimately choose an area of study on which to focus.

We encourage you to visit each faculty member’s biosketch page and the CET Lab pages for more information on current and ongoing research projects.

Curriculum

Curriculum

Year 1 (Minimum of 32 credit hours required)

  • Fall Semester (14 CR):

Core Courses

PHRM8600 Drug Targets in Signal Transduction Pathways (3 credit hours)

PHRM8080 Grantmanship (3 credit hours)

PHRM7230 Ethical issues in research (3 credit hours)

PHRM8730 Journal Club/Seminar (1 credit hour)

Elective Courses

PHRM8700 Advanced Therapeutics-I (4 credit hours) – MS

PHRM8740 Introduction to CET Research (4 credit hours) – PharmD/MS

  • Spring Semester (14 CR):

Core Courses

PHRM8750 Methods in experimental therapeutics (3 credit hours)

PHRM7100 Biomedical Statistics (3 credit hours)

PHRM8710 Advance Therapeutics-II (3 credit hours)

PHRM8730 Journal Club/Seminar (1 credit hour)

Elective Courses

PHRM5901 APPE Research (5 credit hours) – PharmD/MS

PHRM8740 Introduction to CET Research (4 credit hours) – MS

  • Summer Semester (4 CR):

Elective Courses

PHRM7000 Master’s Research (4 credit hours) – PharmD/MS

PHRM8740 Clinical rotations (4 credit hours) – MS

Year 2 (Minimum of 32 credit hours required)

[For students opting for a 2-year (thesis) and for residents looking for a 1-year (thesis) option] 

  • Fall Semester (15 CR):

Core Courses

PHRM7000 Master’s Research (8-11 credit hours)

PHRM8730 Journal Club/Seminar (1 credit hour) – PHRM8730

Elective Courses

PHRM8600 Drug Targets in Signal Transduction Pathways (3 credit hours) – Resident/MS

  • Spring Semester (13 CR):

Core Courses

PHRM7000 Master’s Research (3-8 credit hours)

PHRM8730 Journal Club/Seminar (1 credit hour)

PHRM8740 Clinical rotation (4 credit hours)

Elective Courses

PHRM8080 Grantmanship (3 credit hours)

PHRM7230 Ethical issues in research (3 credit hours)

  • Summer Semester (12 credit hours):

PHRM7300 Master’s Thesis Dissertation (8-12 credit hours)

Elective Courses

PHRM8740 Clinical rotation (4 credit hours)

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