Reimagining pharmacology education

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Guilding, Clare and Kelly-Laubscher, Roisin and Cunningham, Margaret and Dilles, Tinne and Kennedy, David and Brinkman, David J. and Eid, Ali H. and Quesnelle, Kelly M. and Engels, Ferdi and Maxwell, Simon and Christopoulos, Arthur and White, Paul J. (2026) Reimagining pharmacology education. Pharmacological Reviews. 100126. ISSN 0031-6997 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmr.2026.100126)

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Abstract

We are arguably experiencing the greatest disruption to higher education in modern history. High-quality educational research has demonstrated that active learning and other innovations are significantly more effective than traditional methods. The recent pandemic forced educators to adapt in previously unimaginable ways. Generative artificial intelligence now presents great challenges and opportunities for our approaches to teaching, support of learning and assessment, such as streamlining personalised feedback while raising concerns about academic integrity. This article provides a research informed, expert commentary to support new pharmacology educators in navigating this complex environment. The article is neither a systematic review by design and methodology, nor is it offering comprehensive coverage of the pertinent literature (an insurmountable task, given the breadth of the topic). We highlight how educators in basic and clinical pharmacology are transforming their teaching and curricula to enhance student success in current and future settings. Global initiatives, such as those sponsored by the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR), including the Pharmacology Education Project and Core Concepts-based curricula, are offering opportunities to enhance pharmacology education by standardising key concepts, providing open-access learning resources, and fostering international collaboration. These efforts are intended to support alignment of curricula, improve student engagement through interactive materials, facilitating a global exchange of best practices, and supporting educators in adopting innovative teaching methodologies. These initiatives require contributions from pharmacology experts across multiple countries, languages, and cultures. Consequently, this article serves as a call to action to advance innovation and inclusivity in pharmacology education.

ORCID iDs

Guilding, Clare, Kelly-Laubscher, Roisin, Cunningham, Margaret ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6454-8671, Dilles, Tinne, Kennedy, David, Brinkman, David J., Eid, Ali H., Quesnelle, Kelly M., Engels, Ferdi, Maxwell, Simon, Christopoulos, Arthur and White, Paul J.;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)