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CH40210: Future of drug discovery

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Chemistry
Further information on credits Credits: 3
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 20%, EX 60%, PR 20%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 20%)
  • Exam (EX 60%)
  • Practical (PR 20%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Reassessment not allowed
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take CH10191 and take CH10192 and (take CH20149 or take CH20150) or equivalent.
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
The impact that recent developments in biology, chemistry and automation will have on the drug discovery process will be discussed.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this course the student will be able to:
* Appreciate the range of emerging techniques, scientific breakthroughs and economic factors that define the future of drug discovery;
* Understand how financial, legal, logistical, marketing and political decisions affect the drug discovery process;
* Realize the increasing range of 'biologic' drug molecules that are being developed to treat disease;
* Be aware of a range of cutting edge therapeutic areas and drug discovery programs that are currently being pursued within the pharmaceutical industry;
* Critically evaluate selected examples of recent research in drug discovery.

Skills:
Numeracy (F, A), Problem solving (T, F A), Scientific writing (F, A), Independent working (F), Group working (F).

Content:
Discuss the new generation of biological drugs (e.g. antibody therapy, siRNA, peptide based drugs, etc..), biomarkers. Vaccination. Tools for cellular imaging. Clinical trials and risk assessment. Fragment based drug discovery. The ubiquitin pathway. Chemical genetics and proteomics. Structural biology and drug discovery. Testing in zebra-fish. Targeting protein-protein interactions. Systems biology and drug discovery. Six guest lectures from industrial experts involved in dealing with different phases of the drug discovery process will be given. A 'Dragons Den' session will be delivered on a new drug that has recently been approved by the FDA. A 'Dragons Den' like project will be run where the student pitches their idea for a new drug candidate. An assessed poster describing the properties and mode of action of a new drug that has been approved in the previous year by the FDA.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

CH40210 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Chemistry
  • USCH-AFM05 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery (Year 4)
  • USCH-AAM06 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USCH-AKM03 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with Industrial Placement (Year 4)

CH40210 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Chemistry
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.