Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy

Main fields of activity

Organisation and delivery of a high-quality, modern study process in the compulsory courses: Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacologically Assisted Care in Obstetrics, Basic Pharmacology, Pharmacology, Social Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology in Dentistry, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacologically Assisted Care, Pharmacotherapy in Pharmacist’s Practice, Clinical Pharmacy, Clinical Research and Analysis, Social Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pharmacotherapy in Neurology
Organisation and delivery of a high-quality, modern study process in the elective courses: Methods of Instrumental Analysis, Integrated Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy, Development of New Medicines, Forensic Science Expertise and Expert Work, Pharmacogenetics, Chemistry and Cosmetics, Preparation of Scientific Papers, Radiopharmacy and Radionuclides
Scientific activities and commercial services
Supervision of student research projects
Development of doctoral theses
Improvement of the pedagogical and scientific qualifications of the department’s academic staff
Active participation in professional associations: Pharmacists’ Society of Latvia, Pharmacological Society, European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy (EAFP), European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP), International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Latvian Toxicology Society

Pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies of drug substances
Pharmacoepidemiological research on various groups of drug substances
Interaction of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants with other drug substances
Pharmacogenetic research, individualised drug therapy
Pharmacokinetic studies of antibacterial drugs
Ethnopharmacological studies
Development and analysis of medicinal plant extracts
Research on patient adherence to pharmacotherapy and the rational use of medicines

Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre
Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital
Children’s Clinical University Hospital
Riga East Clinical University Hospital
JSC Grindeks
JSC Olpha
Open and closed-door pharmacies
GP practices
Partner universities: Riga Technical University, University of Latvia, Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, University of Helsinki, University of Tartu, University of Pisa, Dalhousie University, Monash University, Charles University

Cēzars Amslers (1881–1965), a Privatdozent at the Institute of Pharmacology of the University of Vienna, who was elected professor of the newly established Department of Pharmacology (originally called the Institute) at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Latvia in 1921, is considered the founding father of pharmacology in Latvia and the first head of the department.
The first textbook on pharmacology in Latvian was published in 1942 by Amsler’s student, German-Baltic pharmacologist and Privatdozent Eduards Rencis (1898–1962).
Prof. Modris Melzobs (1927–2014) is considered to be the longest-serving Head of the Department of Pharmacology (1966–1994).
Since 1950, the Department of Pharmacology has been operating as part of the Faculty of Medicine at the Rīga Medical Institute, the Medical Academy of Latvia, and Rīga Stradiņš University.
Since 2015, the Department of Pharmacology has continued its activities as part of the RSU Faculty of Pharmacy.
Since the summer of 2023, the teaching base of the Department of Pharmacology has been located on the first floor of 21 Konsula iela in Rīga.
Following the consolidation, as of 1 September 2025, the Faculty of Pharmacy has two departments: the Department of Applied Pharmacy and the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy.