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SL52128: Drug discovery: from target to medicine

[Page last updated: 16 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 25 [equivalent to 50 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 500
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CWOI 16%, CWPF 60%, CWRG 24%
Assessment Detail:
  • Written portfolio on drug discovery (CWPF 60%)
  • Identification of new therapeutic target (CWOI 16%)
  • Virtual drug discovery exercise (CWRG 24%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: While taking this module you must ( take SL52131 OR take SL52130 ) AND take SL52133
Learning Outcomes: After studying this unit, students should be able to:

Distinguish the different phases of drug discovery and discuss the issues to be considered prior to launching a drug discovery programme

Critically discuss methodologies, models and techniques used in the identification and validation of a drug target, and the discovery and development of therapeutics

Evaluate the drug discovery approaches used in a range of therapeutic areas

Critically interpret drug discovery data

Search, evaluate and use the published scientific literature to inform and justify arguments in a drug discovery context

Develop and work inclusively in a multidisciplinary team. Communicate scientific information and ideas clearly, accurately, and effectively.

Design new hit-to-lead compounds to answer a scientific question.


Synopsis: You will study the fundamentals of drug discovery science (biology and chemistry focussed) and the pre-clinical drug discovery process. You will integrate this material to consider methodologies, techniques, types of therapeutics, basic ADME and regulatory science. You will put your knowledge into practice in a classroom-based virtual drug discovery exercise, where you will work in teams to design and develop a novel small molecule inhibitor, drawing on a portfolio of bespoke scientific data.

Content: Core biology- and chemistry-focussed science underpinning drug discovery

Historical overview of the approaches to drug discovery

Strategic, scientific, and operational issues to be considered prior to launching a drug discovery programme

Target identification and validation

Different therapeutic modalities (e.g., small molecules, oligonucleotides, peptides, therapeutic proteins, PROTACs) and the methodologies used in the discovery of new therapeutics

Overview of a range of therapeutic areas, models used and examples of drug discovery in these areas

Pre-clinical drug pharmacokinetics, ADME, safety and toxicology

Regulatory science

Team-based virtual drug discovery exercise

Course availability:

SL52128 is a Must Pass Unit on the following courses:

Department of Life Sciences

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change 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.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.