All Glossary Entries

A
the building letter code for the Ambulatory Care Center, 400 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

APhA
American Pharmaceutical Association, the name of a national professional association and the parent organization for the ASP student chapter

APPEs
Advance Pharmacy Practice Experiences, the name of the clinical rotations taken at the end of year 3 and during year 4 of the PharmD curriculum

ASHP
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

ASP
Academy of Students of Pharmacy, the name of the student chapter of the American Pharmaceutical Association

ASSP
Associated Students of the School of Pharmacy, the name of the School of Pharmacy student government

ASUC
Associated Students of the University of California, the name of the campuswide student government organization

ATM
automated teller machine, a machine that dispenses money when you use an authorized bank card and PIN number

BART
Bay Area Rapid Transit, the name of a public transportation rail system for the San Francisco Bay Area region

BDC
the building letter code for the Buchanan Dental Clinic, 100 Buchanan Street, San Francisco

biology
scientific study of living organisms

cellular biology
cells, their components, and how they function

chemical biology
composition, structure, properties, and interactions of chemicals within living organisms

molecular biology
biochemical processes at the molecular level

structural biology
structure of molecules within cells and how these molecules interact and function

biopharmaceutical sciences
scientific field focused on studying the molecular, cellular, and genetic principles underlying drug development and therapy

biotechnology
industrial use of biological techniques or products developed through basic research

BPS
Biopharmaceutical Sciences

C
the building letter code for the Clinical Sciences Building, 521 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

California Poison Control System
a highly integrated system directed by the UCSF School of Pharmacy that provides both an immediate emergency 24-hour telephone advice line for poisoning exposure and a program to educate the public and health care professionals about poisoning treatment and exposure

CCC
the building letter code for the Marilyn Reed Lucia Child Care Study Center, 610 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

CCSC
Center for Consumer Self Care

CDL
California Digital Library, the name of a collection of journals, databases, and other reference materials available via computer

Center for Bioinformatics and Quantitative Biology
emerging collaborative research center created by the UCSF School of Pharmacy's department of biopharmaceutical sciences, in conjunction with other UCSF schools and departments, to study problems in quantitative biology and bioinformatics as well in the structure management of DNA and protein sequence informatics

Center for Chemical Diversity
emerging collaborative research center created by the UCSF School of Pharmacy's department of pharmaceutical chemistry that promotes work at the frontier of chemistry and biology using innovative and developing techniques and technologies and focuses to date on drug discovery and combinatorial libraries

Center for Consumer Self Care
emerging evidence-based center created by the School of Pharmacy's department of clinical pharmacy to foster smart and effective consumer decision-making relative to prescription and nonprescription drugs and dietary supplements through programs in targeted research, education, patient care, and public service

Center for Pharmacogenomics
emerging collaborative research center created by the UCSF School of Pharmacy's department of biopharmaceutical sciences with the School of Medicine's Program in Human Genetics to study the genetic variability of drug response in individuals and to use that knowledge to ultimately improve drug development and research, and to design more effective drugs with fewer side effects

CGE
Center for Gender Equity

CGL
Computer Graphics Laboratory

chemistry
scientific study of the composition, structure, and properties of substances and the changes they undergo

bioorganic chemistry
use of chemical synthesis to study biological systems

biophysical chemistry
use of chemical theory and instruments to study biological materials

computational chemistry
use of computers to study the general principles of chemical structures and reactions

pharmaceutical chemistry
chemical disciplines important to the study and development of pharmaceuticals, including bioorganic chemistry, biophysical chemistry, computational chemistry, structure determination, mechanistic enzymology, and studies of metabolism and toxicity

physical chemistry
application of physical theories or laws to explain results of chemistry experiments

synthetic chemistry
deliberate manufacture of pure substances of defined structure

CIT
Center for Instructional Technology, the name of a promoter of the use of computers in delivering course materials

CKM
Center for Knowledge Management, the program associated with the UCSF Library whose staff manages and advances the world's largest health sciences base through, for example, the engineering of software tools and the exploration and integration of electronic resources into curricula

CL
the building letter code for the campus Library, 530 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

clinical pharmacy
pharmacy practice philosophy that has shifted the focus of pharmacists from drug products themselves to the safe and optimally effective use of drug products in patients; this philosophy positions pharmacists as active members of the health care team, working side by side with physicians and nurses, to provide direct care to patients and consultation to patients' families

clinical pharmacy care
direct health care and consultation provided by clinically trained pharmacists to patients and consumers about prescription and nonprescription drugs, and related products

clinical pharmacy residents
post-PharmD professionals training in general pharmacy practice and/or specialty areas, such as oncology and pediatrics

clinical scientists
clinicians who conduct research on the effects of drugs and other interventions in humans

clinical trials
prospective studies in humans that compare the effectiveness and value of a potential new drug or therapy in one group against a control group before the drug or therapy is made available to the general population

CP
Clinical Pharmacy

CP
the building letter code for Candlestick Point, 5 Thomas Mellon Circle, San Francisco

CPhA
California Pharmacists Association

CRS
the building letter code for Central Receiving South, 616 Forbes Boulevard, South San Francisco

CSHP
California Society of Health-System Pharmacists

D
the building letter code for the Dentistry Building, 707 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

drug delivery systems
methods of transporting drugs into the body or to specific sites of action in the body

drug development
research process following drug discovery that takes a molecule with desired biological effects in animal models and prepares it as a drug that can be used in humans

drug discovery
research process that identifies molecules with desired biological effects in animal models, and thus have promise as new therapeutic drugs in humans

drug information systems
organized programs or services that develop rational, evidence-based answers to questions regarding drugs or the use of drugs

drug metabolism and transport
how drugs are processed, broken down, and moved within the body

drug policy
any policy that affects the use and application of drugs, including legislative drug policies, insurance company drug policies, and hospital drug policies

drug therapy management
management by pharmacists of the range of factors, such as drug dose, method of delivery, toxicity, and cost, that can affect the access to and effective use of drugs by patients

EHS
the building letter code for the Environmental Health and Safety, 50 Medical Center Way, San Francisco

ENS
Enterprise Network Services, the name of a UCSF communications service provider

EP
the building letter code for Executive Park, 250 Executive Park Boulevard, San Francisco

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions, a list of the most frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers

fellow
a scientist or health care professional who has already earned a doctoral degree and has received an award (fellowship) in support of gaining additional experience and training in a focused area of study at UCSF

fellowship
an award given to a doctoral-degreed scientist or health care professional in support of gaining additional experience and training in a focused area of study at UCSF

fiscal year
July 1 through June 30 of any given year

FM
the building letter code for Facilities Management, 3130 20th Street, San Francisco

GALEN account
the name of the UCSF Library account that enables faculty, students, and staff to access library services and resources

GALEN II
the name of the UCSF collection of journals, databases, and other reference materials available via computer

GAP
Geriatrics Awareness Project, the name of a community service project of ASP

gene delivery
development of methods to deliver genes to cells

gene therapy
use of genes to treat disease

genetics
study of the genetic composition, heredity, and variation of organisms

genomics
study of the structure and function of the genetic information that belongs to a cell or organism

genotype
entire genetic contribution of an individual

graduate program
PhD-related academic program

GSA
Graduate Students' Association, the name of the student government body for UCSF graduate students

H
the building letter code for Hunters Point, 830 Palou, San Francisco

health care providers
health professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and dentists, who provide patient care

health delivery
direct delivery of health care to patients

health policy
plans and actions of government and other organizations designed to maintain and improve public health

health policy researchers
researchers who investigate health policy-related questions

HSE
the building letter code for the Health Sciences Instruction and Research East Tower, on the UCSF Parnassus campus

HSW
the building letter code for the Health Sciences Instruction and Research West Tower, on the UCSF Parnassus campus

Human Genome Project
national effort coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health to identify all the approximately 100,000 genes in human DNA, determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical bases that make up DNA, store this information in databases, develop tools for data analysis, and address the ethical, legal, and social issues that may arise from the project; to help achieve these goals, researchers are also studying the genetic makeup of several nonhuman organisms

ILCs
Interactive Learning Center, computing labs and classrooms on the UCSF Parnassus campus in the campus library (ILC Library) and in the Medical Sciences building (ILC-South)

informatics
collection and organization of information using computers and statistical methods

bioinformatics
information about human and other animal genes and related biological structures and processes

medical informatics
information about diseases, patients, drug use, and drug interactions

IRC
Thomas A. Oliver Informatics Resource Center, the name of the UCSF School of Pharmacy multipurpose teaching and learning facility equipped with networked computer workstations and other electronic resources

ITS
Information Technology Services, the name of a UCSF communications services provider

ITSA
an e-mail account or the name of the mail server for many UCSF faculty, students, and staff

K
the building letter code for the Koret Vision Research Laboratory of the Beckman Vision Center, 10 Kirkham Street, San Francisco

L
the building letter code for the Joseph M. Long Hospital, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

LGBT
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender

LHda
the building letter code for Laguna Honda, 1350 7th Avenue

LHts
the building letter code for Laurel Heights, 3333 California

LIAS
Laptop Internet Access Service, the name of a service that enables users of laptop computers to connect to the Internet in classrooms and the library

LPPI
Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute

M
the building letter code for the Herbert C. Moffitt Hospital, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

managed care
procedures used by organizations that assume risk for health services to control or influence variables in those services for a defined population; variables include cost, price, quality, and accessibility

mass spectrometry
study of the structure of molecules by using the mass of their basic constituents

MCB
the building letter code for the Mission Center Building, 1855 Folsom Street, San Francisco

MDI
Molecular Design Institute

Millberry Union
the name of the student union and fitness center, Guy S. Millberry Union, 500 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

Mission Bay
UCSF's emerging 43-acre campus, which is located in the Mission Bay district of San Francisco; one-half of the program space there will be devoted to basic science research and one-half to academic, support, campus administration, and community uses; development will be phased in over 15 to 20 years

molecular design
design of molecules, including pharmaceuticals

Molecular Design Institute
research institute at UCSF that promotes and coordinates research and education in the broad area of molecular design with particular emphasis on the discovery, design, and delivery of novel pharmaceutical agents; the MDI is an Organized Research Unit (ORU) of the University of California, San Francisco

molecular docking program
computer program that simulates fitting potential drugs into target receptor molecules much like a key fits into a lock

molecular drug design
design of pharmaceuticals based upon the application of chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer science

molecular pharmacology
molecular approaches to the study of drug action

molecular targeting
developing a drug directed at a specific biological target

MPH
Master of Public Health, graduate degree

MR-I
the building letter code for Medical Research Building I on the UCSF Parnassus campus

MR-II
the building letter code for Medical Research Building II on the UCSF Parnassus campus

MR-IV
the building letter code for Medical Research Building IV on the UCSF Parnassus campus

MS
Master of Science, graduate degree

MU
the building letter code for Milberry Union, 500 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

MUNI
short for Municipal Railway, the name of the public transportation busses, steetcars, cable cars. and subway trains in San Francisco

MZ
the building letter code for UCSF/Mount Zion Medical Center, 1600 Divisadero; Brunn Research Institute, 1657 Scott; and Mount Zion Research Building, 2340 Sutter -- all in San Francisco

N
the N-Judah streetcar; a MUNI streetcar that stops at UCSF and takes passengers downtown or to the ocean and the Sunset district

N
the building letter code for the School of Nursing Building, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco

NLM
National Library of Medicine

nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopic technique that enables scientists to determine the structure and dynamics of molecules and if, where, and how drugs might bind to those molecules

OAR
Office of Admissions and Registrar

OP
the building letter code for Oyster Point, 612 Forbes Boulevard, South San Francisco

ORU
organized research unit

OSACA
Office of Student & Curricular Affairs

OSR
Office of Student Relations

OTC
over the counter, a term to describe a drug that is available without a prescription

pathways
pathway options in the revised PharmD professional curriculum instituted in academic year 1998-1999; students take a core clinical pharmacy curriculum and choose one of three pathways: pharmaceutical care, pharmaceutical policy and management, or pharmaceutical science

PDA
Personal Digital Assistant, a handheld computing device

PF
the building letter code for the Francis I. Proctor Foundation, 95 Kirkham Street, San Francisco

pharmaceutical
of or relating to drugs

pharmaceutical care
direct involvement of the pharmacist in the design, implementation, and monitoring of a therapeutic drug plan to produce a specific therapeutic outcome

pharmaceutical chemistry
synthesis, development, and study of molecules used in medicine and their interactions with biological agents

pharmaceutical economics
application of the tools of economics to the study of pharmaceutical issues whereby the costs and benefits of different choices are studied and evaluated

pharmaceutical outcomes
results of pharmaceutical care defined as the measurable effects of drug, or nondrug, usage on a patient; intermediate pharmaceutical outcomes, such as cost and time, can also be identified and measured

pharmaceutical policy
any policy that is designed to improve or regulate the efficiency, effectiveness, safety, development, or promotion of pharmaceuticals, including drugs and devices

pharmaceutical sciences
all of the sciences, including chemistry and biology, that play roles in the discovery and development of drugs

pharmaceutical technology
all of the technologies involved in the development and use of drugs

pharmacodynamics
quantitative study of drug action

pharmacogenomics
study of the effects of individual genetic variations on drug response; aimed at the prescription or development of drugs that maximize benefit and minimize side effects in individuals

pharmacokinetics
quantitative study of how drugs are taken up, biologically transformed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated from the body

pharmacy administration
management of the systems that affect all pharmacy-related clinical events, from the formulation of a drug prescription to the actual administration of a drug to a patient

pharmacy practice modeling
identification and creation of new ways to apply the pharmacy profession in practice situations and to evaluate their effectiveness

PharmD
the Doctor of Pharmacy degree

PharmD student
graduate student pursuing a doctor of pharmacy professional degree; students who successfully complete the program are eligible for licensure as pharmacists

PhD
the Doctor of Philosophy degree

PhD graduate programs associated with the UCSF School of Pharmacy
graduate programs in: chemistry and chemical biology, pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacogenomics, biological and medical informatics (MS also offered), biophysics, and quantitative biology

PhD student
graduate student pursuing a doctor of philosophy degree; School of Pharmacy PhD students are pursuing graduate degrees in scientific research

PIN
personal information number, a password that enables you to access personal information, such as on a Web site or at an ATM machine

postdoctoral education and training/programs
advanced training for pharmacy professionals beyond the PharmD degree and for scientists beyond the PhD degree

professional fees and services
revenue-generating activities, including consulting, clinical work, and services

professional program
PharmD-related academic program

protein engineering
technique for isolating and studying proteins and creating tailor-made proteins by altering the genes that direct their composition

PSSF
Pharmacy Society of San Francisco

PubMed
the name of a computer system that enables people to read journals about clinical and basic sciences, nursing, dentistry, and health care planning and administration

RAS
Remote Access Service, the name of a method provided by UCSF to connect to the Internet

rational use of drugs
method of drug use that considers the balance among drug cost, clinical outcome, and the patient's quality of life

research
investigation and experimentation aimed at discovery, interpretations, and application of scientific data

basic science research
studies that pursue knowledge about the most fundamental processes of life, such as how cells work

clinical science research
studies involving humans, usually carried out in hospital or clinical settings, aimed at understanding the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders

health policy research
studies of the health care system and health policy-making processes

health services research
studies of the organization, delivery, and financing of health care

pharmaceutical research
basic science studies related specifically to the discovery, development, and use of drugs

translational science research
studies involving the translation of basic science research findings into applications that benefit people

residency
period of additional clinical training in a focused area of interest for pharmacists who have already earned a PharmD degree

residents
pharmacists who have already earned a PharmD degree and have been accepted for additional clinical training (residency) in a focused area of interest

S
the building letter code for the Medical Sciences Building, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

S/D
School of Dentistry

S/M
School of Medicine

S/N
School of Nursing

S/P
School of Pharmacy

SAA
Student Academic Affairs, a collection of units offering services to students, such as registration, health, and career services

SACS
Sequence Analysis and Consulting Service

SFGHMC
the building letter code for the San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco

SHS
Student Health Services

SU
the building letter code for the Surge Research Building, 90 Medical Center Way, San Francisco

Synapse
the name of the UCSF student-run weekly newspaper

Telnet
a method of connecting to a computer to access information, such as e-mail

The Source
the name of UCSF's business support center that offers computer hardware and software sales, mail services, copy services, and reprographics services

therapeutic
referring to the cure or management of a disease

toxicogenomics
application of genetic and genomic methods to the study of toxicology

toxicology
study of poisonous substances in terms of their chemistry, effects, and treatments

U
the building letter code for UC Hall, 533 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco

UCSFLink
the name of the VPN service provided by UCSF that enables you to connect to UCSF-restricted servers from a standard Internet connection

visiting professor
senior scientist, who is often from a foreign country, conducting research in a specific field of study

VPN
Virtual Private Network

W
the building letter code for the Woods Building, 100 Medical Center Way, San Francisco

WebCT
Web Course Tools, the name of a system for managing course materials available on the Web