Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology basically concerned with the study of drug action. Some pharmacology-related associations, regulatory agencies and journals listed below are committed to educate, lead, and serve professionals in pharmacology and related areas by promoting the exchange of information and perspectives on applied pharmacology, among other functions.

 

Societies and other Institutions

 

Fundació Institut Català de Farmacologia

The Fundació Institut Català de Farmacologia (Catalan Institute of Pharmacology) was founded in 1998 in Barcelona, Spain. It is a non-profit institution associated with both the Service of Clinical Pharmacology of Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (Institut Català de la Salut), and the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Its main aim is promoting the rational use of medicines and other therapeutic resources, through various activities.

 

Societat Catalana de Farmacologia

The Catalan Society of Pharmacology was founded in 1958 to achieve enhance research in the Catalan pharmaceutical industry for social, scientific and economic benefits. Thus, this it aims to increase the university-industry relationship by organizing a large number of conferences and forums based on pharmacology.

 

Sociedad Española de Farmacología (SEF)

The Spanish Society of Pharmacology was founded in 1972 to bring all Spanish pharmacologists together in order to: Promote scientific and social exchange between pharmacologists and pharmacology societies by organizing scientific symposiums; to stimulate pharmacological research through scholarships positions and prizes; and the functioning of different work committees or sections aimed to discuss specific pharmacological topics and/or related areas.

 

Sociedad Española de Farmacología Clínica (SEFC)

The Spanish Society of Clinical Pharmacology was founded in the mid-eighties as the Spanish Society of Hospital Clinical Pharmacology, and this name was changed to the current one in 1990. This society is committed to raise professional’s awareness of good practices in research and use of drugs, by promoting the development of Clinical Pharmacology as a medical specialty, and enhancing its activity in every area of the health system.

 

European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (EACPT)

The European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics is a learned society in the field of clinical pharmacology. It is the leading society in Europe serving the European and global clinical pharmacology and therapeutics community. The EACPT includes all national organisations for clinical pharmacology in Europe and provides educational and scientific support for the more than 4000 individual professionals interested in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics throughout the European region, with its congresses – the next in Madrid in 2015 – attended by a global audience. The EACPT also holds summer schools, focus meetings and organises other scientific and professional activities.

 

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR)

The International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology is a voluntary, non-profit association founded in 1959 as a section of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. It became independent in September 1965 and its name was changed to the actual in 2006 to better reflect the composition of the membership. The main objectives of IUPHAR are to foster international cooperation in pharmacology by sponsoring regional activities, encouraging free exchange of scientists and ideas, developing public awareness, etc.

 

Regulatory Agencies

 

Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS)

The AEMPS, as a state agency attached to the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, is responsible for guaranteeing society, from a public service perspective, the quality, safety, efficacy and correct information of medicines and health products, from its Research until its use, in the interests of the protection and promotion of human health, animal health and the environment.

 

European Medicines Agency (EMA)

The European Medicines Agency is a decentralised agency of the European Union (EU), located in London. It began operating in 1995. The Agency is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the EU. EMA protects public and animal health in 28 EU Member States, as well as the countries of the European Economic Area, by ensuring that all medicines available on the EU market are safe, effective and of high quality.

 

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The Food and Drug Administration was formed in 1905 as a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food safety, cosmetics and wide variety of drugs or therapeutic practices.

 

Journals

 

Actualidad en Farmacología y Terapéutica (AFT)

 

The Actualidad en Farmacología y Terapéutica journal was founded in 2003 by the Institute of Teófilo Hernando (IFTH) and the Spanish Foundation of Pharmacology (FEF), when these institutions realized the importance of medical education. Therefore, the AFT is committed to keep health care professionals “up to date” with new pharmacological and therapeutic advances.

 

Revista ICB Digital 

The ICB Digital magazine, which is biannually published, is either addressed to of the Research Ethics Committees members, researchers, clinical research staff, CROs, administrations, funding agencies, and other scientists interested in human research. The journal aims to disseminate and teaching ethical values in relation to clinical research in other Spanish-speaking countries.