The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at King Saud University's College of Pharmacy was established in 1379 AH (1959 AD) coinciding with the founding of the College of Pharmacy at the university. The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is the first of its kind in the Kingdom and one of the earliest in the region.

Pharmacology is the science that deals with studying the kinetics and physiology of drugs on the body, to understand their mechanisms of action to maximize benefits and minimize side effects, as well as to identify contraindications and interactions with other medications. Meanwhile, toxicology focuses on studying the harmful and toxic effects of chemical substances in all their forms on the body, as well as methods of prevention and treatment.

The department teaches pharmacology and toxicology courses, along with courses in physiology, anatomy, and biochemistry to both undergraduate and PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) students as per the program requirements. Students learn fundamental and practical concepts of pharmacology and toxicology, including how to understand the mechanisms of action of drugs on various body organs and the side effects associated with their use. Additionally, during their studies, students learn about the latest medications used to treat cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and many other ailments. The department also teaches pharmacology, toxicology, and biochemistry courses to undergraduate and graduate students from various health colleges at the university, such as the College of Medicine, Dentistry, Applied Medical Sciences, and Nursing.

The department offers two specialized programs leading to master's degrees in pharmacology and toxicology, as well as a doctoral program in pharmacology and toxicology, which is the first of its kind in the Kingdom. After completing their coursework, graduate students conduct research in various specialized and precise fields, thanks to a distinguished group of faculty members with significant research and scientific expertise in cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases, liver and kidney diseases, vaccine and serology fields, biochemistry, microbiology, and more. The department aims to study drugs and their effects at the molecular level of cells, translating discoveries and inventions from compound isolation to cellular studies to animal studies and ultimately translating them into potential therapeutic mechanisms. Therefore, the main goal of offering these specialized programs is to qualify and prepare healthcare professionals with a high level of training and excellence in the fields of pharmacology and toxicology to meet the labor market needs and to supply pharmaceutical factories, bodies, and institutions in the Kingdom with master's and doctoral degree holders who contribute to the development of the pharmacy profession and enhance drug safety and research.

Faculty members in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology continuously engage in pharmaceutical sciences research across various fields and specialties. The department includes members who are scientifically and research-oriented at both national and international levels. Many faculty members have received financial support for their research from both internal and external sources related to King Saud University and have been awarded prestigious scientific prizes and recognitions from top universities and institutions at both local and international levels. Numerous faculty members have published hundreds of peer-reviewed research papers in scientific journals in the fields of pharmacology and toxicology.

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology strives to support the vision and mission of the college and university, which in turn supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by preparing and graduating skilled medical professionals to serve the nation in various medical and research fields and elevate its name in global forums.

Vision

To become the primary and accredited reference in the education and research of pharmacology and toxicology, aiming to improve human health and environmental safety.

Mission

To employ teaching, scientific research, community partnerships, and strategies to graduate professional pharmacists who contribute to building a knowledge-based economy, address national scientific and industrial challenges, and meet the labor market requirements in the fields of pharmacology and toxicology by providing modern knowledge and rigorous scientific training with a particular focus on using pharmacological and toxicological data to solve national health and environmental challenges.

Strategic Objectives

• To graduate an outstanding generation of pharmacists with high quality and efficiency.
• To develop and maintain high-quality graduate programs and training courses that serve the profession and its practitioners.
• To build and cultivate local and international partnerships to enhance the quality of academic and research programs, thus developing students' research skills.
• To support, facilitate, and empower researchers to conduct scientific research that serves the vision and strategy of the Kingdom and the university's goal of research excellence and meeting national priorities.
• To reinforce and promote the department's role in community partnership as a provider of healthcare services.
• To elevate the pharmacy profession and its practitioners across various fields.

Values

• Integration of research and education
• Partnerships between students and faculty
• Serving the profession and the greater good of society
• Scientific integrity
• Quality and excellence
• Professionalism and competency
• Community responsibility