Pharmacologist

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

• 2121.2: Microbiologists and Cell and Molecular Biologists

2006 NOC-S

• C021: Biologists and Related Scientists

2011 NOC

• 2121: Biologists and related scientists

2016 NOC

• 2121: Biologists and related scientists

2021 NOC

• 21110: Biologists and related scientists

2023 OaSIS

• 21110.01: Biologists

Pharmacology is the scientific study of the effects of drugs and chemicals on living organisms. Pharmacologists study how organisms handle drugs, identify and validate new targets for drug action, and assist with the design and development of new drugs.

A pharmacologist’s duties and responsibilities vary from one position to another. In general, pharmacologists are trained as laboratory researchers. They conduct basic, clinical, or translational research. They work in laboratories in universities, hospitals, research institutions, or the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. They:

• Take part in training physicians, pharmacists, dentists, future pharmacologists, and other healthcare professionals in post-secondary institutions
• Conduct basic, clinical, or translational research in laboratories in academia, hospitals, or commercial organizations
• Help to evaluate and market drugs and related products for the pharmaceutical industry
• Provide expert opinions to healthcare professionals, lawmakers, law enforcement, and the public on emerging drug use issues, such as opioid abuse and cannabis legislation
• Provide expertise to government agencies in detecting, regulating, and licensing drugs and related products

Pharmacology is multidisciplinary, combining principles from biomedical and other sciences. For example, it may incorporate principles from physiology, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, pathology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, veterinary medicine and psychiatry.

Pharmacologists develop and evaluate drugs to treat a wide range of conditions. These conditions can include bacterial or viral infections or psychiatric, neurological, endocrinological, or cardiovascular diseases. Pharmacologists may use drugs and chemicals as tools to help research physiological and pathophysiological processes. Increasingly, biopharmaceuticals produced by genetic engineering are being used as new therapeutic agents.

Pharmacologists may specialize in one or more of the following areas:

• Pharmacodynamics - the study of the mechanisms of drug action. This may involve experiments to learn how drugs affect biological processes in purified proteins or cellular organelles (such as mitochondria), and in isolated cells or organs and whole organisms, including humans. Examples may include studying gene regulation, structure and function of proteins, cell biology, or tissue and organ responses to physiological and pathological stimuli.
• Pharmacogenomics - the study of how genetic variations affect drug responses. This research pursues the hope that drug therapy (the choice of drug and its dosage) can be tailored to the genotype of each patient (an example of personalized medicine).
• Pharmacokinetics - the study of the time-dependent processes of absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and elimination of drugs in animals and humans, and how these vary between individuals. The goal is to develop dosage regimens that maximize therapeutic benefit, minimize unwanted side effects, and circumvent drug resistance.
• Toxicology - the study of noxious substances, including their mechanisms of action, as well as the detection and treatment of the adverse effects of drugs. For related information, see the Toxicologist occupational profile.
• Pharmacotherapeutics - also known as pharmacological therapy or drug therapy, is defined as medical treatment that uses one or more drugs to improve ongoing symptoms (symptomatic relief), treat the underlying condition, or act as a prevention for other diseases (prophylaxis).

Pharmacologists typically work in two main areas:

• Laboratory settings - Pharmacologists in this setting usually experiment on chemicals or existing medications, research potential new medications, and test their work in clinical trials prior to releasing it to the public.
• Clinical settings- Pharmacologists in this setting are usually doctors with unique knowledge of the interactions and effects of certain drugs used in the treatment of diseases. They design and lead medical or clinical trials to determine how medicines work in real-life situations, which help develop safer, more effective treatments.

Basic pharmacologists study drug and chemical responses in biological systems using in vitro cell and tissue models, and sometimes experimental animals.

Clinical pharmacologists usually are physicians who specialize in the study of therapeutic and pharmacokinetic (movement of drugs within the body) properties of drugs in humans. For more information, see the Family Physician occupational profile.

Junior pharmacologists usually work in research laboratories. Senior or more experienced scientists spend more time planning and analyzing experiments, writing reports or manuscripts for publication, and applying for funding. They may work overtime to complete projects on time. They may travel to attend scientific workshops or present research findings at conferences.

Pharmacologists work for:

• Agricultural chemical companies
• Commercial cannabis producers
• Food processing companies
• Forensics firms
• Health authorities
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
• Provincial and federal governments
• Universities
• Research institutes
• Hospitals

Pharmacologists who have just earned their B.Sc. often work at a technical level. With a master’s, PhD or MD and several years of experience, they become qualified to work in universities or large pharmaceutical firms.

Pharmacologists work closely with other science and health professionals to ensure new products are safe and effective. Pharmacologists often work in advisory or consultant roles. They may work in activities related to developing, formulating, producing, and marketing new drugs for clinical use.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Biologists and related scientists
2016 NOC: 2121

79.3% of people in this occupational group work in:

• Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Public Administration
• Educational Services
• Health Care and Social Assistance

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

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3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Biologists and related scientists

2021 NOC: 21110

Cool

Job Market

7,900

Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation
• Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

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Employment Outlook

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In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Biologists and related scientists

2016 NOC: 2121

2.6%

Annual Growth
(Above average)

44

New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Suitably qualified integrative pharmacologists at the M.Sc. and PhD levels are in high demand in the pharmaceutical industry. The ability to study drugs in vivo (for example, conduct pharmacokinetic and toxicology analyses) is a definite asset.

Competence in the field of bioinformatics and pharmacoeconomics is likely to become an increasingly valuable asset for pharmacologists over the next decade.

Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CSPT) website: www.pharmacologycanada.org

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