International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology
Encyclopedia
The International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) is a voluntary, non-profit association representing the interests of scientists in pharmacology
-related fields to facilitate Better Medicines
through Global Education and Research around the world.
(ICSU). The first World Congress of Pharmacology was held in Stockholm
, Sweden
in 1961 and subsequently held every three years. After 1990 the World Congresses were moved to a four-year interval. These meetings not only present the latest pharmacological advances in research accomplishments, technology, and methodology, but also provide a forum for international collaboration and exchange of ideas. A General Assembly, consisting of delegates from all the member societies, is convened during the congresses so member societies have an opportunity to elect the Executive Committee and vote on matters concerning the governance and activities of the union.
, pharmaceutical companies
, and government organizations, all working together to advance the field. The Division of Clinical Pharmacology focuses on the needs and research tools for clinicians. The Committee on Receptor Nomenclature and Drug Classification (NC-IUPHAR) facilitates the interface between the discovery of new sequences from the Human Genome Project
and the designation of the derived proteins as functional receptors and ion channels. In other words, as new discoveries are made in pharmacology, NC-IUPHAR provides a uniform guideline for naming and classifying the results in the public domain. Sections specializing in various areas of pharmacology have been established, including Education, Drug Metabolism
and Drug Transport, Gastrointestinal Pharmacology, Natural Products
, Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics
.
A primary purpose of IUPHAR is providing global free access to a major, on-line repository of characterization data for receptors
, ion channels and drug
s through the Committee on Receptor Nomenclature and Drug Classification (NC-IUPHAR), which was established in 1987. This database includes all the G protein
-coupled receptors, voltage-gated ion channel
s, 7TM receptors, nuclear receptor
s and, shortly, ligand-gated ion channel
s which are known to be in the human genome
. Where relevant, data on the rat and mouse homologues
are presented to assist researchers and clinicians in developing and/or enhancing therapeutics for eventual medication for humans.
NC-IUPHAR also promulgates standards of name nomenclature for research in pharmacology and the related disciplines.
As a non-government organization in official relations with the World Health Organization
(WHO), IUPHAR representatives help shape international policy on essential medicines
, appropriate dose therapeutics for children, and clinical pharmacology
core competencies among its many WHO-related activities.
The Division of Clinical Pharmacology compiled and released the Research in Humans Compendium, a free resource to provide the scientific community interested in human research with an easy-to-use reference on how to design a research protocol
to assess the effectiveness of a drug in a series of pathological conditions.
An important aspect of IUPHAR is the development of pharmacology in developing countries
. In conjunction with the International Council for Science
, the Pharmacology for Africa
(PharfA) initiative was undertaken in 2006 to promote and organize pharmacology on the African continent. The South African Society of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology is building a database and network of institutions and pharmacologists to create an infrastructure for training and funding pharmacologists. The long-term goal is for the African continent to attain the necessary pharmacological knowledge and resources to address the disease-related issues affecting the population.
techniques more quickly. The 9th World Conference on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics in Québec City
, Canada
was the last IUPHAR meeting to present clinical pharmacology separately. The WorldPharma2010 - World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology in Copenhagen
, Denmark
on July 17–23, 2010 was the first completely integrated meeting. The expectation of merging these different approaches to the same discipline is to more quickly discover, devise, test and introduce new or higher quality therapeutics for humans.
Educational components will be emphasized for both existing pharmacology programs through an international initiative in Integrative and Organ Systems Pharmacology, as well as increasing and enhancing pharmacology training in developing countries through the Education Section. This topic will be a central theme of the XVIIth World Congress of Pharmacology (WCP2014) being held July 13–18, 2014 in Cape Town
, South Africa
. The next congress will be held in Kyoto, Japan in 2018.
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
-related fields to facilitate Better Medicines
Medication
A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
through Global Education and Research around the world.
History
Established in 1959 as a section of the International Union of Physiological Sciences, IUPHAR became an independent organization in 1966 and is a member of the International Council for ScienceInternational Council for Science
The International Council for Science , formerly the International Council of Scientific Unions, was founded in 1931 as an international non-governmental organization devoted to international co-operation in the advancement of science...
(ICSU). The first World Congress of Pharmacology was held in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1961 and subsequently held every three years. After 1990 the World Congresses were moved to a four-year interval. These meetings not only present the latest pharmacological advances in research accomplishments, technology, and methodology, but also provide a forum for international collaboration and exchange of ideas. A General Assembly, consisting of delegates from all the member societies, is convened during the congresses so member societies have an opportunity to elect the Executive Committee and vote on matters concerning the governance and activities of the union.
Composition
IUPHAR members are national societies from around the world, however, the various sections and committees are composed of individuals from academiaAcademia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, pharmaceutical companies
Pharmaceutical company
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...
, and government organizations, all working together to advance the field. The Division of Clinical Pharmacology focuses on the needs and research tools for clinicians. The Committee on Receptor Nomenclature and Drug Classification (NC-IUPHAR) facilitates the interface between the discovery of new sequences from the Human Genome Project
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA, and of identifying and mapping the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional...
and the designation of the derived proteins as functional receptors and ion channels. In other words, as new discoveries are made in pharmacology, NC-IUPHAR provides a uniform guideline for naming and classifying the results in the public domain. Sections specializing in various areas of pharmacology have been established, including Education, Drug Metabolism
Drug metabolism
Drug metabolism is the biochemical modification of pharmaceutical substances by living organisms, usually through specialized enzymatic systems. This is a form of xenobiotic metabolism. Drug metabolism often converts lipophilic chemical compounds into more readily excreted polar products...
and Drug Transport, Gastrointestinal Pharmacology, Natural Products
Natural product
A natural product is a chemical compound or substance produced by a living organism - found in nature that usually has a pharmacological or biological activity for use in pharmaceutical drug discovery and drug design...
, Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics
Pharmacogenetics
The terms pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics tend to be used interchangeably, and a precise, consensus definition of either remains elusive...
.
Activities
In general, IUPHAR offers individual pharmacologists free curriculum expertise, career development and job listings, research resources, and collaboration opportunities. IUPHAR offers its member societies venues for participating in world-wide initiatives, publicizing member meetings and activities, nominating individuals for Young Investigator awards, and naming delegates to the General Assemblies. For examples, visit the biannual newsletter entitled, Pharmacology International at http://www.iuphar.org/pubs_newsletter.html .A primary purpose of IUPHAR is providing global free access to a major, on-line repository of characterization data for receptors
Receptor (biochemistry)
In biochemistry, a receptor is a molecule found on the surface of a cell, which receives specific chemical signals from neighbouring cells or the wider environment within an organism...
, ion channels and drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
s through the Committee on Receptor Nomenclature and Drug Classification (NC-IUPHAR), which was established in 1987. This database includes all the G protein
G protein
G proteins are a family of proteins involved in transmitting chemical signals outside the cell, and causing changes inside the cell. They communicate signals from many hormones, neurotransmitters, and other signaling factors. G protein-coupled receptors are transmembrane receptors...
-coupled receptors, voltage-gated ion channel
Voltage-gated ion channel
Voltage-gated ion channels are a class of transmembrane ion channels that are activated by changes in electrical potential difference near the channel; these types of ion channels are especially critical in neurons, but are common in many types of cells....
s, 7TM receptors, nuclear receptor
Nuclear receptor
In the field of molecular biology, nuclear receptors are a class of proteins found within cells that are responsible for sensing steroid and thyroid hormones and certain other molecules...
s and, shortly, ligand-gated ion channel
Ligand-gated ion channel
Ligand-gated ion channels are one type of ionotropic receptor or channel-linked receptor. They are a group of transmembrane ion channels that are opened or closed in response to the binding of a chemical messenger , such as a neurotransmitter.The binding site of endogenous ligands on LGICs...
s which are known to be in the human genome
Human genome
The human genome is the genome of Homo sapiens, which is stored on 23 chromosome pairs plus the small mitochondrial DNA. 22 of the 23 chromosomes are autosomal chromosome pairs, while the remaining pair is sex-determining...
. Where relevant, data on the rat and mouse homologues
Homology (biology)
Homology forms the basis of organization for comparative biology. In 1843, Richard Owen defined homology as "the same organ in different animals under every variety of form and function". Organs as different as a bat's wing, a seal's flipper, a cat's paw and a human hand have a common underlying...
are presented to assist researchers and clinicians in developing and/or enhancing therapeutics for eventual medication for humans.
NC-IUPHAR also promulgates standards of name nomenclature for research in pharmacology and the related disciplines.
As a non-government organization in official relations with the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO), IUPHAR representatives help shape international policy on essential medicines
Essential medicines
Essential medicines, as defined by the World Health Organization are "those drugs that satisfy the health care needs of the majority of the population; they should therefore be available at all times in adequate amounts and in appropriate dosage forms, at a price the community can afford."The WHO...
, appropriate dose therapeutics for children, and clinical pharmacology
Clinical pharmacology
Clinical pharmacology is the science of drugs and their clinical use. It is underpinned by the basic science of pharmacology, with added focus on the application of pharmacological principles and methods in the real world...
core competencies among its many WHO-related activities.
The Division of Clinical Pharmacology compiled and released the Research in Humans Compendium, a free resource to provide the scientific community interested in human research with an easy-to-use reference on how to design a research protocol
Protocol (natural sciences)
In the natural sciences a protocol is a predefined written procedural method in the design and implementation of experiments. Protocols are written whenever it is desirable to standardize a laboratory method to ensure successful replication of results by others in the same laboratory or by other...
to assess the effectiveness of a drug in a series of pathological conditions.
An important aspect of IUPHAR is the development of pharmacology in developing countries
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
. In conjunction with the International Council for Science
International Council for Science
The International Council for Science , formerly the International Council of Scientific Unions, was founded in 1931 as an international non-governmental organization devoted to international co-operation in the advancement of science...
, the Pharmacology for Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
(PharfA) initiative was undertaken in 2006 to promote and organize pharmacology on the African continent. The South African Society of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology is building a database and network of institutions and pharmacologists to create an infrastructure for training and funding pharmacologists. The long-term goal is for the African continent to attain the necessary pharmacological knowledge and resources to address the disease-related issues affecting the population.
Future directions
The early years of the 21st century will be focused on integrating basic and clinical research into a continuous spectrum of investigation to implement translational medicineTranslational medicine
Translational medicine is a medical practice based on interventional epidemiology. It is regarded by its proponents as a natural progression from Evidence-Based Medicine. It integrates research from the basic sciences, social sciences and political sciences with the aim of optimising patient care...
techniques more quickly. The 9th World Conference on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics in Québec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
was the last IUPHAR meeting to present clinical pharmacology separately. The WorldPharma2010 - World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
on July 17–23, 2010 was the first completely integrated meeting. The expectation of merging these different approaches to the same discipline is to more quickly discover, devise, test and introduce new or higher quality therapeutics for humans.
Educational components will be emphasized for both existing pharmacology programs through an international initiative in Integrative and Organ Systems Pharmacology, as well as increasing and enhancing pharmacology training in developing countries through the Education Section. This topic will be a central theme of the XVIIth World Congress of Pharmacology (WCP2014) being held July 13–18, 2014 in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The next congress will be held in Kyoto, Japan in 2018.
See also
- Drug designDrug designDrug design, also sometimes referred to as rational drug design or structure-based drug design, is the inventive process of finding new medications based on the knowledge of the biological target...
- International Council of Science
- Medicinal chemistryMedicinal chemistryMedicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry are disciplines at the intersection of chemistry, especially synthetic organic chemistry, and pharmacology and various other biological specialties, where it is involved with design, chemical synthesis and development for market of pharmaceutical...
- Pharmaceutical companyPharmaceutical companyThe pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...
- PharmacologyPharmacologyPharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...