Department of Pharmacology — History

The Department of Pharmacology of Dicle University Faculty of Medicine was established in 1969. The Department's courses were carried out with the contributions of faculty members of Ankara University and later of Bursa Uludağ University. The position of Head of the Department, which was previously held by faculty members from different disciplines, was held by Prof. Dr. Tülin SÖYLEMEZOĞLU between 1985 and 1994, by Prof. Dr. Güner ULAK between 1994 and 1996, and by Prof. Dr. Ramazan ÇİÇEK between 1996 and 2008. In 2009, the name of the Department was changed by the Council of Higher Education to Medical Pharmacology.

The headship of the Department of Medical Pharmacology has been held by Prof. Dr. Meral ERDİNÇ since 2008. Within the department there are 3 laboratories: the Pharmacology laboratory, where in vivo and in vitro drug studies on laboratory animals are carried out (isolated organ studies and isolated kidney and heart studies with the Langendorf method); the laboratory where molecular-level analyses (western blot, etc.) are performed; and the psychopharmacology laboratory, where animal behavior experiments are conducted—on subjects such as experimental stress, depression and Alzheimer's—applying tests such as the elevated plus maze, passive avoidance, open field and forced swimming test using the EthoVision XT video tracking system.

The undergraduate Pharmacology courses for Terms I, II and III of the Faculty of Medicine, the clinical Pharmacology clerkship courses in Term IV, and the undergraduate Pharmacology courses in Dentistry are taught by the three faculty members currently serving in the Department. In addition, Doctoral and Master's programs are conducted under the Institute of Health Sciences. The course programs and thesis studies of the 10 graduate students currently enrolled in the program are ongoing.

Within the scope of the Medical Pharmacology Medical Specialty (Residency) program, the specialty training rotations and thesis studies of the residents are carried out. There is currently one Research Assistant enrolled in the Specialty program.