Offered

Clayton Full year 2009 (Day)
Clayton Second semester to First semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville Full year 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will be the research part of the Honours degree, a compulsory part of a 4th year research degree. This until will provide the students with an understanding of the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a research project and provide them with the knowledge and skills for higher studies and learning in the Medicinal Chemistry discipline.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the participant will;

1. Be able to critically review the scientific literature in their discipline.
2. Have a detailed understanding of the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a research project.
3. Be able to execute and analyse a set of laboratory-based studies.
4. Be proficient in computer based literature searching, accessing Material Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS) and other computer programs commonly used in their chosen Medicinal Chemistry discipline.
5. Be able to present scientific results in a style suitable for publication.
6. Have the capability to pursue higher studies and learning in the Medicinal Chemistry discipline.

Offered

Clayton Full year 2009 (Day)
Clayton Second semester to First semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville Full year 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This 18 point unit will be the research part of the Honours degree, a compulsory part of a 4th year research degree. This unit will provide the students with an understanding of the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a research project and provide them with the knowledge and skills for higher studies and learning in the Medicinal Chemistry discipline.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the participant will;

1. Be able to critically review the scientific literature in their discipline.
2. Have a detailed understanding of the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a research project.
3. Be able to execute and analyse a set of laboratory-based studies.
4. Be proficient in computer based literature searching, accessing Material Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS) and other computer programs commonly used in their chosen Medicinal Chemistry discipline.
5. Be able to present scientific results in a style suitable for publication.
6. Have the capability to pursue higher studies and learning in the Medicinal Chemistry discipline.

Offered

Clayton Second semester to First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This 18 credit point unit is the second part of the (part time) Honours degree of Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry. This unit will be the research part of the Honours degree, a compulsory part of a 4th year research degree. This unit will provide the students with an understanding of the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a research project and provide them with the knowledge and skills for higher studies and learning in the Medicinal Chemistry discipline.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the participant will;

1. Be able to critically review the scientific literature in their discipline.
2. Have a detailed understanding of the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a research project.
3. Be able to execute and analyse a set of laboratory-based studies.
4. Be proficient in computer based literature searching, accessing Material Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS) and other computer programs commonly used in their chosen Medicinal Chemistry discipline.
5. Be able to present scientific results in a style suitable for publication.
6. Have the capability to pursue higher studies and learning in the Medicinal Chemistry discipline.

Offered

Clayton First semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This 12 point unit will be the coursework component of the Honours degree, a compulsory part of a 4th year research degree. This unit will provide the students with a greater understanding of the breadth and diversity of Medicinal Chemistry.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the participant will;

1. Have gained insight into the breadth and diversity of medicinal chemistry.
2. Be proficient in safe work practices for a chemical laboratory, including the use of MSDS's and the performance of risk assessments.

Offered

Clayton First semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This 6 credit point unit will be the coursework component of the Honours degree, a compulsory part of a 4th year research degree. This unit will provide the students with a greater understanding of the breadth and diversity of Medicinal Chemistry.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the participant will;

1. Have gained insight into the breadth and diversity of medicinal chemistry.
2. Be proficient in safe work practices for a chemical laboratory, including the use of MSDS's and the performance of risk assessments.

Offered

Not offered in 2009

Synopsis

This 6 credit point unit has been introduced as part of the new Honours degree of Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry which will be offered for the first time in 2006. This unit will be the second half of the (part time) coursework component of the Honours degree, a compulsory part of a 4th year research degree. This unit will provide the students with a greater understanding of the breadth and diversity of Medicinal Chemistry.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the participant will;

1. Have gained insight into the breadth and diversity of medicinal chemistry.
2. Be proficient in safe work practices for a chemical laboratory, including the use of MSDS's and the performance of risk assessments.

Leader(s): Dr Jalal Jazayeri

Offered

Sunway First semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit lays a foundation of knowledge about mammalian systems and provides the relationship between pathophysiology and the rational design and use of drugs. Students will be introduced to the concepts underlying basic biochemistry and molecular biology of the cell, and will then consider in detail the structure and function of the musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems. One or more examples of disease states which are amenable to pharmacotherapy will be discussed in detail for each organ/system. Students will perform a number of tasks, which will help with the development of critical thinking skills.

Objectives

At the end of this unit, students can be expected to:

1. Describe the functioning of a single cell, including the transcription / translation process, energy utilisation, and the role of the major classes of macromolecules;
2. Describe the structure of each major organ / organ system considered within the course;
3. Explain the function of each major organ / organ system considered within the course, with reference to the structure;
4. Explain the physiological basis for the most common disease states to affect each organ / organ system considered within the course;
5. Analyse simple examples of cellular and organ dysfunction, and be able to explain the likely consequences for the function of the system;
6. Demonstrate the development of written communication skills appropriate for first year students- explain the pathophysiology for one disease state and one drug treatment associated, relating the drug target to the disease state.

Assessment

mid-semester test: 5%; written assignment task (1000 words): 10%; practical sessions: 15%; final examination: 70%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures/whole class tutorials, six 1 hour tutorials, one 3 hour problem based /case based learning session and two 3 hour practical classes

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Roland Chung

Offered

Sunway First semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides students with introduction to organic chemistry. Topics include:

• chemical structure bonding and shape
• introduction to organic chemistry
• alkanes and cycloalkanes
• alkenes and alkynes
• chirality
• haloalkanes
• alcohols, ethers & thiols
• benzene and its derivatives
• spectroscopy/pharmaceutical analysis

1. To provide the specialist background in organic chemistry necessary to understand Drug Action units in year 2;
2. To provide essential fundamental background for Drug Delivery and Integrated therapeutics units in years 2-4.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Apply the key concepts in chemical structure and bonding, including functional groups, to the rationalisation of reactions of organic molecules;
2. Explain the role of molecular shapes and electronic distributions as the basis for drug-receptor interactions;
3. Be proficient in basic laboratory techniques.

Assessment

Written examination (3 hours): 80%; practical test: 10%; practical classes: 5%; tutorial classes: 5%

Contact hours

51 contact hours per semester (lectures 30 x 1 hour; practicals 5 x 3 hour; tutorials 6 x 1 hour)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Sab Ventura

Offered

Sunway Second semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

In this unit, students will learn the anatomy and physiology of various major organ systems. The autonomic control of these organ systems and the role that they play in maintaining health will also be covered. Pathophysiology and epidemiology of the major disorders of these systems will also be covered. This unit will provide a solid core of physiological knowledge to allow students to understand how drugs are able to modify physiological systems to alleviate the symptoms of a number of diseases to be covered in later years.

This unit aims to describe the physiology of the following systems and organs:

• special senses, skin
• respiratory
• gastrointestinal including feeding, digestion and absorption
• liver
• kidney and excretion
• temperature regulation
• reproductive
• blood and other body fluids

Objectives

After completing this unit students should be able to:

1. Describe the function of the lungs and airways and how these organs are controlled;
2. Draw a schematic diagram of the kidney, skin and gastrointestinal tract and label the important functional structures within the organs;
3. Explain the function of the kidney, skin and gastrointestinal tract and the pathophysiology of major disorders of these organs;
4. Explain the physiological basis for the most common disease states affecting the kidney, skin and gastrointestinal tract;
5. Analyse simple examples of organ dysfunction, and be able to explain the likely consequences for the function of the system;
6. Draw a schematic diagram of the reproductive system in both males and females and label the structures involved;
7. Explain the normal physiological roles played by each of the organs within these systems;
8. Demonstrate the development of written and oral communication skills appropriate for 1st year students - explain the pathophysiology for one disease state and one associated drug treatment, relating the drug target to the disease state;
9. Have a sound knowledge of the physiology of various systems throughout the body
10. Explain complex physiological mechanisms in writing;
11. Have a good understanding of how physiological systems interact and are modified in disease conditions;
12. Work as a team to complete a research task;
13. Articulate what they know about complex physiological mechanisms orally.

Assessment

oral presentation: 5%; review of practicals and ongoing assessment; 15%; final exam: 80%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures, one 1 hour tutorial, one 3 hour tutorial, one three hour presentation/ discussion session, two 3 hour practical classes.

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Roland Chung

Offered

Sunway Second semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides students with introduction to the chemistry of biomolecules. Topics include:

• Amines
• Coordination compounds
• Aldehydes and Ketones
• Carboxylic Acids and Functional Derivatives
• Organic Polymer Chemistry
• Carbohydrates
• Amino Acids and Proteins
• Nucleic Acids
• Lipids
• Drug Stability & Metabolism
• Perspectives in Medicinal Chemistry

1. To provide the specialist background in organic chemistry and chemistry of biomolecules necessary to understand Drug Action units in year 2;
2. To provide essential fundamental background for Drug Delivery and Integrated therapeutics units in years 2-4.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Apply the key concepts in chemical structure and bonding, including functional groups and biomolecules, to the rationalisation of reactions of organic molecules;
2. Explain the role of molecular shapes and electronic distributions as the basis for drug-receptor interactions;
3. Be proficient in basic laboratory techniques.

Assessment

Written examination (3 hours): 80%; practical test: 10%; practical classes: 5%; tutorial classes: 5%

Contact hours

54 contact hours per semester (lectures 30 x 1 hour; practicals 6 x 3 hour; tutorials 6 x 1 hour)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Elizabeth Yuriev

Offered

Sunway First semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to provide students with a firm understanding of the basic physicochemical principles that underpin the science behind pharmacy as a discipline. This understanding, reinforced by some mathematical principles, sets the foundation for students to build upon in drug delivery units through second semester in first year, and in the second, third and fourth years of the course. The understanding of these principles will also assist students in their understanding in some areas of chemistry, physiology and biology.

Students will develop an:

1. Understanding of the physicochemical principles that underpin pharmaceutical chemistry and drug delivery;
2. Ability to undertake calculations concerning the physicochemical properties of pharmaceuticals and aspects of pharmaceutical products;
3. Ability to measure some fundamental properties of pharmaceutical materials through practical exercises.

Objectives

1. Describe differences between the various states of matter, and the concepts of phase equilibria (phase rule, degrees of freedom, miscibility, azeotropes, eutectics).
2. Calculate degrees of freedom for systems with defined components and phase behaviour.
3. Define thermodynamic quantities and laws of thermodynamics, describe concepts of state functions, state variables, and the ideal state.
4. Define acidity and basicity constants in the context of species in solution, describe the principles behind the role of buffers, and discuss their importance in pharmacy. Perform calculations to describe the influence of pH on properties of species in solution.
5. Recognise the most common organic functional groups that exhibit acidic or basic behaviour in aqueous solutions.
6. Describe and perform calculations involving oxidation potentials and discuss their relevance in pharmaceutical products.
7. Describe kinetics terminology including reaction rate, rate constant, order of reaction, elementary step, rate determining step and catalysis. Describe kinetic theories.
8. Describe the relationships between and conduct calculations involving reaction rates, concentration, temperature and activation energy. Perform calculations involving the Arrhenius equation.
9. Conduct integration of simple functions, and evaluate definite integrals, integrals by algebraic substitution and integration of algebraic functions.
10. Determine suitable rate equations from information about the process occurring (zero, first, second order), and integrate the rate equation to obtain quantities over time. Derive half life equations for these processes and determine half life from experimental data.

Assessment

Written examination (3 hours): 75%; practical test: 5%; practical classes: 5%; mathematics practicals: 5%; tutorial classes: 5%; written quiz: 5%

Contact hours

72 hours of formal study per semester

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Suzanne Caliph

Offered

Sunway Second semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to provide students with a firm understanding of the fundamental physicochemical principles that underpin the science behind pharmacy as a discipline. This understanding sets the foundation for students to build upon in drug delivery units in the second, third and fourth years of the course. The understanding of these principles will also assist students in their understanding in some areas of chemistry, physiology and biology.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Understand the physicochemical principles that underpin the important processes of pharmaceutical solids dissolving to form a solution. In particular an understanding of dissolution, solubility and distribution are critical in many areas of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science;
2. Describe the various forms of pharmaceutical solids, both drug forms and other components (excipients) and to understand their role and impact when used to produce solution-based dose forms in the pharmacy field;
3. Understand the basic physical chemistry of solutions once formed, including: understanding the terms solution, supersaturation, solubility (ideal and non-ideal), solubility parameter, dissolution, distribution (in a physical chemistry sense) and partitioning, the influence of ionizable functional groups and structure on solution behaviour, the properties of polymers in solution and their rheological aspects, to describe the physical chemical concepts of solutions of non-electrolytes in terms of vapour pressure, Raoult's Law and Henry's Law, and of solutions of electrolytes in terms of molar conductivity, Kohlrausch's Law, activity and ionic strength;
4. Have the ability to undertake calculations concerning the physico-chemical properties of drug solutions, including: Calculate changes in solubility with pH for ionisable compounds, Calculate and express solution concentrations in molarity, molality, mol fraction and equivalents. Use Kohlrausch's Law to calculate molar conductivities using the van't Hoff Factor. Calculate partial pressures for ideal and non-ideal systems given concentrations and activity coefficients. Calculate ionic strength using activity coefficients, Debye-Hckel approximation and the extended Debye-Hckel theory;
5. Describe strategies typically used to improve drug solubility, and to outline the theories for prediction of drug solubility from solid state properties;
6. Outline the common colligative properties and perform simple calculations to quantify these properties;
7. Describe the meaning and importance of isotonicity in pharmacy, and perform simple calculations of isotonicity. Describe methods of determination of tonicity of pharmaceutical solutions;
8. Understanding of how drug transport across biological membranes is influenced by various physicochemical factors, in particular dissolution, ionization and distribution characteristics. Competences will include: Calculating the percentage of ionized and unionized species of a drug molecule at different pH values and describe the impact of such pH changes on overall drug absorption across a biological membrane. Describe the characteristics of passive diffusion, active uptake and active efflux of drugs, in relation to drug permeability across biological membranes. Describe each component of Fick's first law of diffusion in relation to drug transport across biological membranes.

Assessment

written test on tutorial/workshop content: 10%; MCQ on practical work: 10%; end of year exam: 80%

Contact hours

72 hours of formal study per semester

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr David Kong

Offered

Sunway First semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to provide first year students with the basic foundations required to successfully complete later year units of the Bachelor of Pharmacy course.

The unit aims to:

1. Introduce students to a range of topics relevant to the practice of pharmacy (i.e. The Health Care System, The Pharmacist and The Patient);
2. Develop students' skills in communication and problem solving;
3. Develop students' dispensing skills and knowledge;
4. Introduce students to pharmaceutical calculations and the basic concepts of statistics;
5. Develop students' ability to apply pharmaceutical calculations and basic concepts of statistics in the practice of pharmacy and health care;
6. Develop students' generic skills in critical thinking, communication, problem--solving and working in teams.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students should be able to:

1. Describe the framework for patient-centred care including the roles of pharmacists, the medicines management pathway, the practice of pharmacy in rural settings, the basic legal and ethical requirements related to pharmacy practice and medicines use, the Australian health care system and the professional pharmacy organisations;
2. Describe the use of some commonly prescribed medicines;
3. Retrieve, interpret and communicate (orally or in writing) basic information about medicines or health care issues, and apply it to patient-centred care;
4. Perform pharmaceutical calculations relevant to the practice of pharmacy;
5. Describe the basic concepts of statistics and know when to use the appropriate analyses;
6. Apply (at basic level) patient-centred care in the practice of pharmacy including preparing and dispensing simple dose forms of medicines, recording prescriptions, labelling the medicines and counselling patients.

Assessment

oral presentation: 5%; written assignment: 5%; open book exam: 15%; final exam; 75%

Contact hours

34 1 hour lectures, two 1 hour small group tutorials and six 3 hour practical sessions

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr David Kong

Offered

Sunway Second semester 2009 (Day)
Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to provide first year students with the basic foundations required to successfully complete later year units of the Bachelor of Pharmacy course.

The unit aims to:

1. Enhance students' knowledge and understanding of a range of topics relevant to the practice of pharmacy (i.e. the health care system, the pharmacist and the patient);
2. Develop students' skills in communication and problem solving;
3. Develop students' dispensing skills and knowledge;
4. Develop students' ability to apply biostatistical and pharmaceutical calculations in the practice of pharmacy and health care;
5. Develop students' understanding of human behaviour and health psychology;
6. Introduce students to research methods used in epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology;
7. Develop students' generic skills in critical thinking, communication, problem-solving and working in teams.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students are expected to be able to:

1. Describe the use of some commonly prescribed medicines;
2. Retrieve, interpret and communicate (orally or in writing) basic information about medicines or health care issues, and apply it to pharmacy practice;
3. Prepare and dispense simple dose forms of medicines, including recording prescriptions, labelling the medicines and counselling patients;
4. Perform basic pharmaceutical and biostatistical calculations;
5. Describe the research methods used in epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology;
6. Describe the basic principles of human behaviour and health psychology and their application in the health care setting;
7. Apply the basic principles of human behaviour and health psychology in the practice of pharmacy.

Assessment

online pharmaceutical calculation test (hurdle requirement); essay: 15%; open book practical examination: 15%; end of semester written exam: 70%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures and six 3 hour practicals

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Helen Irving

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit will introduce the basic concepts of biochemistry and their application to biology and chemistry focussed around interactions with humans. This approach is designed to integrate the concepts of biochemistry with the aim of introducing second year pharmacy students to essential elements of biochemistry. In the process, students will develop their abilities to integrate biochemical information as it relates to both desired and unwanted effects of therapeutics and appreciate the underlying foundation of biochemistry in the treatment of individual diseases and pathological conditions. The specific topics that will be addressed are as follows:

• structure and molecular properties of biomolecules
• information transfer (gene structure and regulation); protein synthesis
• metabolism; catabolic pathways, synthetic pathways, energy production, control of metabolism

Objectives

After completing this unit, students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of:

1. The basic biochemistry of body constituents by describing (comparing and contrasting) the structure, function and classification of the major biomolecules and how these can be altered or perturbed in disease states;
2. The nature of information transfer and molecular biology methods by discussing aspects of the process from an enzymatic to biomolecular level;
3. The principle metabolic pathways and the basis of their regulation and connections by describing their roles and how they are regulated from an enzymatic to hormonal level;
4. Integrated biochemical and physiological functions, pathophysiological and biochemical or genetic perturbations as they affect bodily functions by describing how the metabolic pathways are regulated under normal fed and fasting conditions and a diseased condition such as diabetes mellitus type 1.

Assessment

on-going assessments: 20%; practical/tutorial work:10%; final examination (2 hours): 70%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures, five 3 hour practicals or workshops, one 6 hour self-directed computer based assignment and five 1 hour tutorials

Prerequisites

PAC1121 Organic chemistry (or VCP1021 Medicinal chemistry IA)
PAC1142 Chemistry of biomolecules (or VCP1022 Medicinal chemistry IB) PAC1111 Introduction to physiology (or VCP1081 Physiology I)
PAC1132 Systems physiology (or VCP1082 Physiology II)
PAC1211 Physicochemical basis of pharmacy (or VCP1071 Pharmaceutical chemistry A)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Sab Ventura

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Students will be introduced to various biological mechanisms regulating cell growth both during embryogenesis and in adult. Examples of abnormal cell growth and how this leads to disease states, such as cancer will be discussed. Pharmacotherapeutic intervention in the treatment of such diseases will also be discussed. This unit will also provide a foundation of basic pharmacological knowledge of how the somatic and autonomic nervous system and various endocrine and local hormone systems are modified in disease conditions. In particular, this unit will teach the pharmacology of drugs used to treat various disorders affecting cell growth and development, the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students will be expected to be able to:

1. Differentiate between the basic molecular-genetic mechanisms by which cells are regulated in a multicellular organism;
2. Describe the special properties inherent to stem cells or specialized cells;
3. Understand the ways in which cell control is disrupted in diseases such as cancer;
4. Diagnose a disorder by examination of signs and symptoms;
5. Relate modifications of physiological and molecular mechanisms to the observed disorder and describe the role of receptor activation and intracellular signalling in normal and abnormal cellular function;
6. Describe the pharmacological mechanisms of the drugs used to treat the disorders.

Assessment

on-going assessments: 20%; practical/tutorial work:10%; examination (2 hours): 70%

Contact hours

34 1 hour lectures, one 1 hour tutorial, one 3 hour computer-aided learning class and two 3 hour practical classes

Prerequisites

PAC1111 Introduction to physiology (or VCP1081 Physiology I)
PAC1132 Systems physiology (or VCP1082 Physiology II)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support

Leader(s): Dr Bim Graham

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to equip students with a foundation of knowledge about the molecular structure of drugs, together with an understanding of the fundamental relationship that exists between the molecular structure of drugs and their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. It also seeks to provide students with an appreciation of the drug design process and the methods used to synthesise and establish the structure of drug molecules. The subject provides a firm foundation for the subsequent Basis of Drug Action II unit, as well as the "Integrated Therapeutics" 3rd year subjects, which focus on describing the major classes of drugs and how they function.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Identify functional groups in drug molecules and describe the bonding interactions they may undergo with a target macromolecule;
2. Define the stereochemistry of chiral compounds and discuss why the shapes of drug molecules are important for biological activity;
3. Relate the bioavailability and physicochemical properties of a drug molecule to its chemical structure;
4. Recognise and describe structural modification strategies used to optimise the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of a drug;
5. Apply the concepts of QSAR;
6. Describe the general synthetic strategies used to synthesise drug leads and their analogues;
7. Analyse and interpret data to describe chemical structures;
8. Be proficient in basic chemical laboratory techniques and communicating results in written form.

Assessment

practical attendance and performance: 5%; on-line multiple choice quizzes: 15%; final exam (2.5 hours): 80%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures/whole class tutorials, seven 3 hour practical classes

Prerequisites

PAC1121 Organic chemistry (or VCP1021 Medicinal chemistry IA)
PAC1142 Chemistry of biomolecules (or VCP1022 Medicinal chemistry IB)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Paul White

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit builds on the previous unit Basis of Drug Action II to provide students with an understanding of the basis of drug action - affinity, efficacy and potency. The consequences of drug binding to cell-surface receptors and enzymes will be considered at a structural level. The aim of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of affinity, efficacy and potency as properties of drug molecules. To be able to analyse the likely effects of drugs on biological systems based on data relating to affinity, efficacy and potency.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. List and describe the categories of biological molecules with which drugs interact;
2. List and explain the properties of a drug that determine whether the drug is an agonist or antagonist;
3. Describe the changes in protein conformation that occur during drug binding for an agonist and antagonist drug;
4. Explain the interaction between drug and receptor that determine efficacy;
5. Calculate drug affinity, potency and efficacy based on model data, and make comparisons between drugs based on such data.

Assessment

CAL Tutorial assessment: 10%; two practical class reports (10% each): 20%; final exam: 70%

Contact hours

30 1 hour lectures, two 3 hour tutorials, one 3 hour problem based / case based learning session, three 1 hour whole class introductions to practical class and one three hour practical class

Prerequisites

attempted PAC2171 Basis of drug action I

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Joseph Nicolazzo

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit introduces physicochemical properties of solids and the use of common excipients, polymers and powders with application to formulation and development of pharmaceutical dose forms such as tablets and capsules. This unit continues the foundation of knowledge about drug delivery and introduces students to fundamental concepts in pharmacokinetics and biopharmaceutics and their impact on drug disposition.

Objectives

Students will develop an understanding of:

1. formulation principles of solid pharmaceutical dosage forms such as tablets and capsules;
2. characteristics and general properties of excipients, polymers, powders, particle size reduction, power drying and powder mixing, methods to quantify powders in terms of particle size, texture and flow, mechanism whereby powders are manipulated;
3. basic pharmacokinetic principles associated with intravenous and oral drug administrations; compartmental and non-compartmental pharmacokinetic approaches;
4. factors influencing drug absorption and effects of altering absorption, clearance, volume of distribution on plasma concentration and amount of drug in the body
5. factors affecting steady-state plasma concentration;
6. how drugs bind to plasma proteins and how this impacts on drug PK;
7. how to estimate the absolute and relative bioavailability of drugs given either plasma or urine concentration data;
8. changes in pharmacokinetic parameters as a result of renal and hepatic diseases.

Assessment

in semester assessments: 20% (practicals and tutorials 8%; Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics workshops and tutorials 12%); final exam (3 hours): 80%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures/whole class tutorials, four 4 hour tutorials, one 3 hour computer -aided learning class, one 3 hour presentation/conversation debate, four 3 hour problem based/case based learning sessions and three 3 hour practicals

Prerequisites

PAC1222 Drug delivery I (or VCP1072 Pharmaceutical chemistry B)
PAC1132 Systems physiology (or VCP1082 Physiology II)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Safeera Hussainy

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Counselling and communication:

• communication skills, professional-patient communication, interprofessional communication
• listening skills, barriers to communication, rapport, empathy, interviewing skills
• advanced counselling skills
• health literacy
• Consumer Medicine's Information resource to complement counselling
• pharmacists as teachers
• communicating with difficult people and in difficult situations
• counselling for safe sex and contraception
• communication for leadership
• interpreting health data and health terminology

• definition
• steps in the pharmaceutical care process
• drug therapy problems - definition, detection, prevention and resolution
• Information retrieval and evaluation, problem solving

Objectives

Students will develop an:

1. Understanding of effective communication with patients and prescribers; health literacy; the role of the pharmacist in patient education; systematic care of patients including of pharmaceutical care; competencies and standards in professional pharmacy and the fundamentals of public health;
2. Ability in the areas of accessing information; written and oral communication; patient counselling; problem-solving in clinically oriented situations; creating, maintaining and utilising individual patient records;
3. Appreciation of the relationships existing between drugs, medicines, patients and society and the role of the pharmacist in patient care.

Assessment

four tutorial assignments: 20% (in total); final exam: 80%

Contact hours

31 hours of lectures (of 50 minutes duration), 18 hours of tutorials (3 hours each) and 6 hours of formative assessment activities

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Safeera Hussainy

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

• Pharmacy in a public health context: Introduce and define pharmaceutical public health. Explore detail of National Medicines Policy, especially Quality Use of Medicines Strategy, to see national context for pharmacy in public health. Cover issues in international health especially with regard to access to medicines. Discuss medicines promotion and health policy formation and impact;
• Health economics: Introduce concepts in health economics and process for informing decision making. Focus on cost effectiveness measures and application to medicine selection and medicine policy;
• Other health professions: Describe role and scope of practice of other health professions. Explore the relationship between pharmacy and other health professions to facilitate integrated patient-focused care;
• Evidence based practice: Introduction to principles of evidence based practice then application to making informed decisions regarding drug therapy. 2 lectures have special focus on EBM and complimentary medicines;
• Dispensing: Six 3 hour practical sessions.

Objectives

Students will develop:

1. an understanding of definitions and issues in public health including the socio-environmental determinants of health;
2. an understanding of the role of pharmacy in a public health context;
3. an understanding of the Australian National Medicines Policy and the Quality Use of Medicines strategy;
4. an understanding of the nature role and development of health policy;
5. abilities in applying population based evidence to improve clinical decision making;
6. abilities in applying health economic principles to medicines use;
7. abilities in dispensing, including clinical problem solving;
8. abilities in performing pharmaceutical calculations building on previous knowledge;
9. an appreciation of the roles of other health professionals and their relationship to pharmacy;
10. an appreciation of key issues around medicine promotion.

Assessment

prescription problem assignments: 15%; practical examination: 15%; final exam: 70%

Contact hours

36 hours of lectures (50 minutes each) and 18 hours of practicals (3 hours each)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Jennifer Marriott

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides an introduction to disease state management. It will cover concepts that span the range of diseases such as issues related to the management of paediatric and geriatric patients and the use and interpretation of laboratory tests for diagnosis and monitoring. This unit provides a foundation of basic knowledge required for the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiovascular diseases. It will relate the pathophysiology of these disorders with the rational design and clinical use of drugs. The chemistry, pharmacology and clinical aspects of medications associated with each area are presented in detail in an integrated fashion. Drug therapy principles for particular conditions and patient groups will be emphasized enabling students to acquire the skills necessary to provide clinical pharmacy services within these areas. In particular, this unit will teach the chemistry, pharmacology and clinical applications of drugs used to treat disorders including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, cardiac dysrhythmias, dyslipidaemias, ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, thromboembolic disorders, angina and cardiomyopathy.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Describe the concepts of disease state management;
2. Describe the major concepts affecting the management of various types of patients (e.g. paediatric and geriatric patients);
3. Evaluate a patient's laboratory test results to assist with the diagnosis or management of disease;
4. Describe the normal function of the cardiovascular system;
5. Describe the epidemiology of the cardiovascular diseases covered;
6. List any environmental or genetic factors which may affect the onset or progress of the disorders;
7. Describe the signs and symptoms likely to be seen in patients with the disorders;
8. Recognise when referral for medical assessment is required with a particular emphasis on cardinal symptoms;
9. Relate modifications of physiological and molecular mechanisms to the observed disorder;
10. Describe the chemistry of the different types of drugs used to treat these disorders;
11. Describe the structure activity relationships and pharmacology of the drugs used to treat these disorders;
12. Describe the chemical and biological principles behind the development of a range of drugs used to treat these disorders;
13. Describe drug and non-drug therapy options and complementary and alternative therapies for the management of cardiovascular disease;
14. Evaluate a patient's disease state and the use of appropriate medications;
15. Describe primary and secondary prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease;
16. Identify any drug therapy problems and recommend appropriate resolutions of those problems;
17. Formulate a medical management program for specific patients based on their medical, medication and psychosocial histories and laboratory.

Assessment

group case-based assignment: 10%; group assignment: 10%; on-line quizzes: 10%; final exam: 70%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures and six 2 hour practical classes

Prerequisites

PAC2171 Basis of drug action I

Co-requisites

PAC2182 Basis of drug action II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Roland Chung

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides students with introduction to organic chemistry. Topics include:

• Chemical Structure Bonding and Shape
• Introduction to Organic Chemistry
• Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
• Alkenes and Alkynes
• Chirality
• Haloalkanes
• Alcohols, Ethers & Thiols
• Benzene and Its Derivatives
• Spectroscopy/Pharmaceutical Analysis

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Apply the key concepts in chemical structure and bonding, including functional groups, to the rationalisation of reactions of organic molecules;
2. Explain the role of molecular shapes and electronic distributions as the basis for drug-receptor interactions;
3. Be proficient in basic laboratory techniques.

Assessment

Written examination (3 hours): 80%; practical test: 10%; practical classes: 5%; tutorial classes: 5%

Contact hours

51 contact hours per semester: thirty 1 hour lectures, five 3 hour practicals and six 1 hour tutorials.

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Roland Chung

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides students with introduction to the chemistry of biomolecules. Topics include:

• Amines
• Coordination compounds
• Aldehydes and Ketones
• Carboxylic Acids and Functional Derivatives
• Organic Polymer Chemistry
• Carbohydrates
• Amino Acids and Proteins
• Nucleic Acids
• Lipids
• Drug Stability & Metabolism
• Perspectives in Medicinal Chemistry

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Apply the key concepts in chemical structure and bonding, including functional groups and biomolecules, to the rationalisation of reactions of organic molecules;
2. Explain the role of molecular shapes and electronic distributions as the basis for drug-receptor interactions;
3. Be proficient in basic laboratory techniques.

Assessment

Written examination (3 hours): 80%; practical test: 10%; practical classes: 5%; tutorial classes: 5%

Contact hours

54 contact hours per semester: thirty 1 hour lectures, six three hour practicals and six 1 hour tutorials

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr David Morton

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

To provide students with the basic mathematical skills to enable them to perform calculations and understand the quantitative relationships in subjects taught later in the course.

Assessment

project management assignment: 35%; MCQ exam: 10%; final exam: 55%

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr David Morton

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The principle aim of this unit is to lay the foundations of the field of pharmaceutical science including drug target identification, the process of drug discovery and medicinal chemistry. Participants are introduced to the following areas as they apply to pharmaceutical science:

1. theory and practice of statistical analysis;
2. physiology and pharmacology;
3. identification of targets for drug intervention;
4. the process of drug discovery;
5. new biomolecular approaches to therapy in the context of drug discovery;
6. chemical synthesis of drugs;
7. structure-based drug design and lead optimisation.

Objectives

After completion of this unit, students will be expect to be able to:

1. Describe the statistical principles behind significance testing of experimental data;
2. Analyse statistically experimental data and determine statistical significance;
3. Appreciate the importance of statistics in pharmaceutical sciences,
4. Describe how drugs have been discovered in the past and how molecular biological methods have revolutionized the science of drug discovery;
5. Understand how molecular, cellular, tissue and in vivo biological assays each play a role in drug discovery;
6. Understand the principles involved in chemical synthesis of drugs;
7. Appreciate the principles of chemical structure-based drug design;
8. Understand the processes of lead optimisation.

Assessment

3 quizzes during semester totaling 15%, oral presentation 15%, 3 hour final examination 70%. Students are required to pass all forms of assessment to pass the unit.

Contact hours

36 lectures, 9 hours of tutorials and 9 hours practical work. Successful completion of this unit will require participants to allocate an average of 1.5 hour per week for 12 weeks additional study time (a total of 72 hours per study period).

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Elizabeth Yuriev

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides a basic understanding of physical chemistry and together with Physical Chemistry II (PSC1072) provides the conceptual and intellectual foundation for further studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Formulation Science) units in 2nd and 3rd year.

Students will develop an:

1. Understanding of the physicochemical principles that underpin pharmaceutical chemistry, drug design and formulation design.
2. Ability to undertake calculations concerning the physicochemical properties of pharmaceuticals and aspects of pharmaceutical products.
3. Ability to measure some fundamental properties of pharmaceutical materials through practical exercises.
4. Appreciation of the principles involved in the formulation of liquid products, including one and two phase liquid systems.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Describe differences between the various states of matter, and the concepts of phase equilibria (phase rule, degrees of freedom, miscibility, azeotropes, eutectics).
2. Calculate degrees of freedom for systems with defined components and phase behaviour.
3. Define thermodynamic quantities and laws of thermodynamics, describe concepts of state functions, state variables, and the ideal state.
4. Define acidity and basicity constants in the context of species in solution, describe the principles behind the role of buffers, and discuss their importance in pharmaceutical science. Perform calculations to describe the influence of pH on properties of species in solution.
5. Recognise the most common organic functional groups that exhibit acidic or basic behaviour in aqueous solutions.
6. Describe and perform calculations involving oxidation potentials and discuss their relevance in pharmaceutical products.
7. Describe kinetics terminology including reaction rate, rate constant, order of reaction, elementary step, rate determining step and catalysis. Describe kinetic theories.
8. Understand the relationships between reaction rates, concentration, temperature and activation energy. Conduct calculations involving these quantities, including the Arrhenius equation.
9. Determine suitable rate equations from information about the process occurring (zero, first, second order), and integrate the rate equation to obtain quantities over time. Derive half life equations for these processes and determine half life from experimental data.
10. Perform laboratory experiments illustrating some of the above concepts, including familiarity with SI units.

Assessment

Written examination (3 hours): 75%; practical test: 5%; practical classes: 10%; tutorial classes: 5%; written quiz: 5%.

Contact hours

72 contact hours per semester

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Ben Boyd

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Practical work designed to reinforce the theory and assist in understanding the principles:

• overview of weights and measures
• SI units and errors
• gases
• phase equilibria
• liquids
• rheology and flow of liquids and gases
• semi-solids
• gels
• crystalline solids
• physical properties of selected liquids
• semi-solids and solids
• thermodynamics
• heat capacity
• solutions of electrolytes and non-electrolytes
• colligative properties of solutions
• isotonicity and electrolytes
• electrolyte calculations
• ionic equilibria
• buffers
• electrochemistry
• kinetics
• solubility and distribution
• surface properties
• liquid in liquid dispersions
• filtration
• solution formulation.

Contact hours

72 contact hours per semester

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Jennifer Short

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit lays a foundation of knowledge about mammalian systems and provides the relationship between pathophysiology and the rational design and use of drugs. Students will be introduced to the physiological basis of disease. Each organ and system will be considered, and one or more examples of disease states which are amenable to pharmacotherapy will be discussed in detail. The course aims to provide a basic understanding of the functions of organs and systems such as the nervous, endocrinological and cardiovascular systems; however, an equal emphasis will be placed on one of the key components of drug discovery, the choice of therapeutic target based on a thorough understanding of the disease process. The principle aim of this subject is to provide students with an understanding of basic biological principles and how these can be applied in pharmaceutical sciences as a basis for later work in other subjects within the course.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Describe the structure of each major organ / organ system considered within the course;
2. Explain the function of each major organ / organ system considered within the course;
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the physiological basis for the most common disease states to affect each organ / organ system considered within the course;
4. Provide a detailed explanation of the rationale for the use of at least one drug therapy for each organ / organ system considered within the course, relating the drug target to the disease state;
5. Research a topic in the area of physiology, and present the findings of such research to peers at an appropriate scientific level.

Assessment

fortnightly quizzes: 10%; oral presentations: 15%; practical/PBL classes: 15%; final examination (2 hours): 60%

Contact hours

45 contact hours per semester: 24 hours of lectures, 6 hours of oral presentations/debates, 6 hours of practical, 3 hours of problem based learning and 6 hours of tutorials

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Betty Exintaris

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will cover:

• pathophysiology of each organ/system
• endocrine function
• skin
• respiration
• feeding, digestion and absorption
• liver, kidney and excretion
• temperature regulation
• reproduction and early embryological development
• blood and body fluids
• cellular reproduction and genetics.

Assessment

final exam (2.5 hours): 100%

Contact hours

24 1 hour lectures, four 1 hour introductory practicals and four 3 hour practicals

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Offered

Parkville Full year 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Pharmaceutics [Hons] research unit

Offered

Parkville Full year 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Pharamcology [Hons] research unit

Leader(s): Dr Johnson George

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The main aims of the subject are to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of a range of topics relevant to the practice of pharmacy, including:

• pharmacy management
• evidence-based practice
• harm reduction
• forensic pharmacy

Objectives

In this unit, students will acquire or further develop an understanding of the following:

1. Personal and personnel management in pharmacy practice;
2. Evidence-based practice (including epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics);
3. Sociological principles of harm reduction;
4. The forensic and legal requirements related to pharmacy practice;
5. The ability in the areas of accessing and critically evaluating information;
6. Applying evidence-based practice to everyday pharmacy situations;
7. Written and oral communication (including effective communication in difficult situations);
8. Problem solving in clinically oriented situations;
9. An appreciation of the pharmacists' legal obligations in professional practice;
10. The role of the pharmacist in patient care, particularly in harm reduction.

Assessment

written exam (2 hours): 70%; evidence-based practice assignment: 20%; management assignment: 10%

Contact hours

32 hours of formal study per semester: 30 hours of lectures, one 1 hour (half class) management tutorial and one 1 hour introduction to PEP

Prerequisites

VCP1011 Pharmacy practice IA
VCP1012 Pharmacy practice IB
VCP2011 Pharmacy practice IIA
VCP2012 Pharmacy practice IIB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Johnson George

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The main aims of the subject are to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of a range of topics relevant to the practice of pharmacy. Topics include:

• the Australian Healthcare system
• competency standards
• ethics
• medication safety
• evidence-based medicine,
• multiple-medication management
• advanced Professional Experience (APE) placement

Objectives

Students will develop

An understanding of:

• the Australian health care system
• medical terminology
• principles of harm minimisation
• principles of pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics
• principles of evidence-based medicine
• overview of management in pharmacy practice
• purpose and application of competency guidelines and standards documents
• the forensic and legal requirements related to pharmacy practice
• principles of medication safety and risk management
• application of multiple medication management practices
• principles of hospital pharmacy practice

1. Accessing and critically evaluating information (including understanding laboratory data relevant to drug therapy);
2. Written and oral communication (including effective communication in difficult situations);
3. Problem solving in clinically oriented situations.

1. The ethics of professional practice;
2. The role of the pharmacist in patient care.

Assessment

exam (2 hours): 50%; practical examination (3 hours Open-book): 40%; Medication Management assignment: 10%

Contact hours

30 1 hour lectures, 2 hour ethics tutorial, 3 hour practical and 1 hour PEP debrief

Prerequisites

VCP3011 Pharmacy practice IIIA
VCP3051 Clinical pharmacy IA
VCP2062 Pharmaceutical microbiology I
VCP3061 Pharmaceutical microbiology II

Co-requisites

VCP3052 Clinical pharmacy IB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Phil Thompson

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The aim of this unit is to build a chemically literate understanding of modern therapeutic agents, which allows students to appreciate the molecular basis for drug efficacy via interaction with macromolecular targets, pharmacokinetics and the role of stability, metabolism and transport as well as the molecular basis for drug side effects. We use four classes of drugs - CNS-active drugs for schizophrenia and Parkinson's Disease; Drugs for Diabetes Mellitus; Opioid analgesics and Steroid based drugs - as current exemplars of drug design, discovery, development and application.

Objectives

Students will develop an understanding of the relationship between the chemical structure and biological activity of drugs and endogenous substances. Four topics are covered as current exemplars of drug design, discovery, development and application:

1. CNS-active drugs for Schizophrenia and Parkinson's Disease;
2. Drugs for Diabetes Mellitus;
3. Opioid analgesics;
4. Steroid based drugs.

Assessment

final exam (2 hours): 80%; four on-line quiz assessments (5% each): 20%

Contact hours

20 1 hour lectures and four 4 hour online tutorial quiz materials

Prerequisites

VCP2021 Medicinal chemistry IIA
VCP2022 Medicinal chemistry IIB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Phil Thompson

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The aim of this unit is to build a chemically literate understanding of modern therapeutic agents, which allows students to appreciate the molecular basis for drug efficacy via interaction with macromolecular targets, pharmacokinetics and the role of stability, metabolism and transport as well as the molecular basis for drug side effects. A variety of drug classes - Drugs for cardiovascular disease; drugs for immune disorders; enzyme inhibitors, peptide and protein therapeutics and anti-cancer drugs -are used as current exemplars of drug design, discovery, development and application.

Objectives

Students will develop an understanding of the relationship between the chemical structure and biological activity of drugs and endogenous substances. Four topics are covered as current exemplars of drug design, discovery, development and application:

1. Drugs that affect the cardiovascular system;
2. Drugs that affect the immune system;
3. Enzyme inhibitors;
4. Protein and peptide therapeutics and Anti-cancer drugs.

Assessment

end of semester paper: 80%; four on-line quiz assessments (5% each): 20%

Contact hours

20 1 hour lectures and four 4 hour online tutorial quiz materials

Prerequisites

VCP2021 Medicinal chemistry IIA
VCP2022 Medicinal chemistry IIB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Joseph Nicolazzo

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will cover:

• drug metabolism
• IV infusion and multiple dosing
• haemodialysis and modified release formulation
• drug pharmacokinetics in hepatic and renal failure
• protein binding and drug pharmacokinetics
• pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic calculations

Objectives

Students will develop an:

1. Understanding of the use of pharmacokinetics to direct the appropriate administration of drugs, particularly intravenous infusions and multiple dose administrations;
2. Appreciation of the impact of modified release oral and parenteral formulations on the pharmacokinetics of drugs, and of the impact of haemodialysis on drug therapy;
3. Understanding of drug metabolism, in general, focussing on clinical relevance;
4. Understanding of hepatic and renal elimination of drugs and the change to drug pharmacokinetics observed in hepatic and renal failure;
5. Ability in the areas of performing pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic calculations.

Assessment

final exam (2 hours): 100%; satisfactory performance in practical work is required

Contact hours

17 lectures and four 3 hour practicals /workshops (including on-line delivery)

Successful completion of this unit will also require participants to allocate an average of 3 hours per week for twelve weeks (a total of 36 hours per study period).

Prerequisites

VCP2032 Pharmaceutics IB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Richard Prankerd

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will cover:

• drug and dosage form stability
• pharmaceutical packaging
• pre-formulation
• formulation of injections
• formulation strategies from pre-formulation data

Objectives

Students will develop an:

1. Understanding of the factors affecting drug and dosage form stability;
2. Understanding of the areas of pharmaceutical packaging, preformulation and the formulation of injectable products;
3. Ability in determining formulation strategies from preformulation data.

Assessment

final exam (written): 100%; satisfactory performance in practical work is required

Contact hours

19 lectures; two 6 hour practicals/workshops; one 3 hour practical/workshop

Successful completion of this unit will require participants to allocate an average of 2 hours per week for twelve weeks (a total of 24 hours per study period).

Prerequisites

VCP2031 Pharmaceutics IA

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Associate Professor David Taylor

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The overall aims of this unit are to introduce students to disorders of the central nervous system and, because there are overlapping mechanisms of action/sites of actions, inflammatory diseases and disorders of the ear, eye, nose and throat and the rationale for treating these disorders. This will provide students with the pharmacological background of drugs acting within the central nervous system essential for their practice as pharmacists. Knowledge in this area will be extended in the semester two unit, Pharmacology IIB.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the participant will be able to:

1. Describe the symptoms of the different central nervous system disorders;
2. Explain the rationale for prescribing the drugs used in the therapeutic treatment of these disorders;
3. Predict adverse effects of the therapeutic drugs used to treat central nervous system disorders based on their mechanism of action;
4. Predict adverse reactions of therapeutic drugs used to treat peripheral (outside the central nervous system) disorders that result from their actions within the central nervous system;
5. Describe the symptoms and treatments of disorders involving inflammation (acute and chronic);
6. Describe the symptoms and treatments of disorders of the eye, nose throat and ears.

Assessment

presentation, practicals and practical assessment: 20%; final exam: 80%

Contact hours

24 1 hour lectures and four 3 hour practical/workshop classes. Successful completion of this unit will require participants to allocate an average of 6 hours per week for 12 weeks (a total of 72 hours per study period).

Prerequisites

VCP2041 Pharmacology IA
VCP2042 Pharmacology IB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Jennifer Short

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit builds on previous units in pharmacology, with a focus on the central nervous system; physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology. In particular, the role of the reticular formation, hypothalamus, basal ganglia and limbic system will be studied, with an emphasis on drugs related to function and dysfunction in these systems.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Describe the central nervous system mechanisms controlling alertness and sleep, motor function and behaviour;
2. Explain the rationale for the pharmacological treatment of insomnia, epilepsy and movement disorders;
3. Describe the symptoms of and treatment of neuroses or affective disorders such as anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder;
4. Describe the symptoms of and treatment of psychoses such as schizophrenia;
5. Research the literature describing relevant pharmacological experimental paradigms related to CNS active drugs, describe the limitations of currently available therapies, hypothesise the characteristics of an 'ideal' pharmacotherapy, and propose tests in which the ideal drug characteristics could be assessed.

Assessment

research project; individual work: 20%, group work: 10%, project exam: 10%, final exam: 60%

Contact hours

24 1 hour lectures; four 3 hour tutorials; one 1 hour full class tutorial

It is expected that this unit will require participants to allocate an average of 6 hours per week for 13 weeks (a total of 78 hours per study period) to successfully complete this unit.

Prerequisites

VCP2041 Pharmacology IA
VCP2042 Pharmacology IB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Phillip Bergen

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The aim of this subject is for students to develop an understanding of how to provide a comprehensive clinical pharmacy service. Clinical pharmacy practice is underpinned by ability in the clinical application of knowledge of pharmacology and therapeutics in selected patient groups. Students should appreciate a patient-centred view of health care delivery and the role of the pharmacist in patient management.

Objectives

In this teaching program students are expected to develop:

1. An appreciation of the role of the pharmacist in primary health care;
2. Abilities in consideration of patient care issues;
3. Understanding of the principles of drug therapy in particular patient groups;
4. Understanding of provision of clinical pharmacy services;
5. An ability to use a patient centred approach to the application of clinical knowledge and skills;
6. Understanding of management of some common disease states.

Assessment

mid-semester multiple-choice quiz: 10%; 2 written assignments related to practical classes (5% each): 10%; final exam (3 hour written): 80%

Contact hours

28 lectures and two 3 hour practicals

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Phillip Bergen

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

In this subject students will build on knowledge developed in VCP3051 to further increase their understanding of the principles of drug therapy in particular patient groups, and the provision of clinical pharmacy services relating to these groups. They will be able to apply these principles using such skills as clinical interviewing and history taking, while taking into consideration issues of patient care.

Objectives

1. An appreciation of the role of the pharmacist in primary health care;
2. Abilities in consideration of patient care issues;
3. Understanding of the principles of drug therapy in particular patient groups and provision of clinical pharmacy services;
4. An ability to use a patient centred approach to the application of clinical knowledge and skills;
5. Understanding of management of some common disease states.

Assessment

case study assignment: 20%; final written exam (3 hours): 80%

Contact hours

approximately 33 contact hours

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Ms Suzanne Caliph

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will cover:

• contamination control and sterile processing
• sterilisation methods
• preservatives, antiseptics and disinfectants
• anti-infective agents
• chemistry of anti-infective agents
• pharmacy application of anti-infective agents
• applied immunology
• practical classes, workshops and tutorials related to the lecture topics

Objectives

Students will develop an understanding of:

1. the structure, chemistry, function, classification and pharmacy of a range of antimicrobial and anti-parasitic agents;
2. pharmaceutical applications of preservatives, antiseptics and disinfectants
3. the role of the immune system in hypersensitivity reactions, development of immunity and auto-immune diseases;
4. contamination control in sterile processing and GMP standards; aseptic dispensing techniques; various methods of sterilisation and sterility assurance procedures;
5. indications, contraindications, side effects and interactions of antimicrobial agents;
6. the role of pharmacist in liaising with other health care professionals to monitor patient care by finding appropriate solutions to antimicrobial prescription problems.

Assessment

In-semester assessments 20%; final exam (3 hours): 80%

Contact hours

36 lectures (36 x 1 h) and 24 hours of problem solving workshops (2 x 3 h), tutorials (3 x 1h) and computer lab practical modules (5 x 3h)

Successful completion of this unit will require participants to allocate an average of 6 hours per week for 12 weeks (a total of 78 hours per study period).

Prerequisites

attempted VCP2062 Pharmaceutical microbiology I

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Kay Stewart

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The main aims of the subject are:

1. To enhance students' knowledge and understanding of a range of topics relevant to the practice of pharmacy;
2. To further develop their skills in communication and problem solving;
3. To provide the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills under supervision in various practice settings through Professional Experience Placements (PEPs).

Objectives

After completing this unit, students will be expected to have developed:

1. Practice skills in a range of settings (hospital, community, rural and, in some cases, overseas) by applying the knowledge and understanding they have gleaned from other units within the course;
2. An ability in the area of accessing and critically evaluation information (including laboratory data relevant to drug therapy); written and oral communication; problem-solving in clinically oriented situations;
3. An appreciation of the ethics of professional practice and the role of the pharmacist in patient care.

Fieldwork

Pharmacy placements

Assessment

assessed as pass grade only

Contact hours

Placements of 420 hours (4 x 3 weeks x 5 days x 8 hours), four 1 hour briefings prior to placement (4/5 of class, for each placement, in lecture theatre) and four 1 hour small group debriefing sessions following placement.

Prerequisites

VCP3012 Pharmacy practice IIIB
VCP3052 Clinical pharmacy IB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Professor Colin Chapman

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The main aims of this unit are to provide students with a further knowledge and understanding of a range of topics relevant to the practice of pharmacy:

• alternative and complementary therapies
• pharmacy management
• health promotion
• veterinary pharmacy
• wound management

Objectives

Student will develop:

1. An understanding of principles of evidence-based medicine; alternative and complementary therapies; personal and pharmacy management; principles of health promotion and disease prevention and veterinary pharmacy;
2. An ability in the area of accessing and critically evaluation information (including laboratory data relevant to drug therapy); written and oral communication; problem-solving in clinically oriented situations;
3. An appreciation of the ethics of professional practice and the role of the pharmacist in patient care.

Assessment

health promotion assignment: 15%; pharmacy management assignment: 10%; oral examination: 15%; written examination: 35%; open book, practical examination: 25%

Contact hours

48 hours of formal study per semester consisting of 26 lectures, 9 tutorials (each of one hour), one practical class (three hours), and several self-directed learning modules in Pharmacy Management (a total of 10 hours).

Prerequisites

VCP3011 Pharmacy practice IIIA

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Michelle McIntosh

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims:

• To complete the biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetics and the drug delivery streams of pharmaceutics including topics relating to non-oral routes of delivery, non-linear pharmacokinetics and the pharmacokinetics of drug interactions;
• To introduce students to the concept of therapeutic drug monitoring;
• To develop skills to utilise the knowledge base in pharmaceutics to solve problems and deal with issues that are likely to occur in practice.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

Knowledge based objectives:

1. Describe the biopharmaceutical barriers to effective drug delivery via non-parenteral routes of drug delivery;
2. Discuss this formulation approaches that can be employed to overcome the biopharmaceutical barriers to effective drug delivery via non-parenteral routes of drug delivery;
3. Analyse pharmaceutical formulations and identify key excipients and describe the potential function of the excipient in the formulation;
4. Identify mechanisms of drug interactions that impact on drug pharmacokientics and discuss the clinical consequences of these interactions;
5. Describe the role of therapeutic drug monitoring and how it is used to optimize clinical effect;
6. Discuss the sources and consequences of non-linear pharmacokinetics.

7. Use the Mechaelis-Menten equation to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters,
8. Locate and evaluate scientific literature on pharmaceutical drug formulations,
9. Prepare a plan and write a scientific report that reflects an understanding of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical rationale behind a specific pharmaceutical formulation.

Assessment

assessment task: 20%; final exam: 80%

Contact hours

28 hours of contact (26 1 hour lectures and one 2 hour workshop) and self directed learning: four on-line modules (20 hours) and an applied pharmaceutics project (24 hours)

Prerequisites

VCP3031 Pharmaceutics IIA
VCP3032 Pharmaceutics IIB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Betty Exintaris

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The overall aim of this unit is to continue to build upon the knowledge of physiological systems and disease states from Pharmacology I and II. The therapeutic basis for the drugs used to treat specific disorders is discussed. At the successful completion of this unit, students should be able to describe the pathophysiology and treatment of endocrine disorders (including diabetes), gastrointestinal disorders and cancer chemotherapy.

Objectives

In this unit students will develop an understanding of the following:

1. Emesis - the physiological relevance, neuronal pathways involved and the available drug interventions;
2. Diseases and clinical conditions affecting the digestive system and the pharmacotherapies that are used to treat gastrointestinal disorders;
3. The pathophysiology of cancer, and available therapies for the treatment of cancer. (4) The structure and function of the pituitary, thyroid and parathyroid glands, the main functions of related hormones and causes and consequences of under- and over-activation of these glands;
4. The mechanism of action and clinical uses of drugs that mimic or alter the synthesis of hormones secreted from the adrenal gland;
5. The function of female and male sex hormones, interactions between sex hormones, therapeutics directed at sex hormones and treatment options for disorders involving sex hormones;
6. The treatments for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus and how these are modified as the disease progresses (in relation to metabolic effects of both the drugs and the disease).

Assessment

debates: 15%; written assignment: 10%; final exam (2 hours): 75%

The exam will be in the form of 8 questions requiring approximately 15 minutes of work each. All questions will be aligned to the specific objectives given before each lecture.

Contact hours

28 hours of formal study for semester 1 (24 lectures, 1 hour tutorial, 3 hours debate session)

Prerequisites

VCP3041 Pharmacology IIA
VCP3042 Pharmacology IIB

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Professor Colin Chapman

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The aim of this subject is for students to develop an understanding of how to provide a comprehensive clinical pharmacy service. Clinical pharmacy practice is underpinned by ability in the clinical application of knowledge of pharmacology and therapeutics in selected patient groups. Students should appreciate a patient-centred view of health care delivery and the role of the pharmacist in patient management.

Objectives

Students will develop:

1. An appreciation of the role of the pharmacist in primary health care and patient management;
2. An understanding of the principles of drug therapy in particular patient groups;
3. Abilities in applying these principles in consideration of patient care issues;
4. An understanding of the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of several common disease states;
5. Ability in the clinical application of knowledge of pharmacology and therapeutics in selected patient groups;
6. An ability to use a patient centred approach to the application of clinical knowledge and skills;
7. Understanding of the management of some common disease states.

Assessment

case-study assignment: 20%; final exam (3 hours): 80%

Contact hours

42 hours

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Professor Colin Chapman

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to develop in students an understanding of the pathophysiology and management of a range of disease states. Students should gain an appreciation of a patient-centred view of health care delivery and the role of the pharmacist in recognising disease and individualising patient management. Students will develop an understanding of how to provide a comprehensive clinical pharmacy service.

This unit builds on the knowledge gained in Clinical Pharmacy I and Clinical Pharmacy IIA and introduces the students to a more complex range of diseases and their management.

Objectives

1. An appreciation of the role of the pharmacist in primary health care and patient management;
2. An understanding of the principles of drug therapy in particular patient groups;
3. Abilities in applying these principles in consideration of patient care issues;
4. An understanding of the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of several common disease states;
5. Ability in the clinical application of knowledge of pharmacology and therapeutics in selected patient groups.
6. An ability to use a patient centred approach to the application of clinical knowledge and skills;
7. Understanding of management of some common disease states.

Assessment

case study assignment: 20%; examination (3 hours): 80%

Contact hours

42 hours

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Michelle McIntosh

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The overall aim of this unit is to provide students with a knowledge and appreciation of the steps taken to develop a drug from design or discovery to a pharmaceutical product and to present an overview of the pharmaceutical industry and its peak organisations and associations.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Describe what is meant by drug target selection and validation;
2. Explain broadly the different approaches by which drugs are identified or discovered and the advantages/disadvantages of each approach;
3. Discuss the relationship between basic physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetic processes and how this information is used in drug discovery
4. Describe the stages of toxicological assessment;
5. Discuss the need for a quality system in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and the role of Good Manufacturing Practices
6. Describe briefly the process of clinical development;
7. Briefly describe the role of the TGA and its responsibilities in ensuring the safe, efficacy, and quality of medicines available in Australia;
8. Discuss the manner in which new drug products are priced in Australia and the main bodies which are associated with this task.

Assessment

final exam:100%

Contact hours

30 hours of formal study per semester

Prerequisites

all 3rd year Bachelor of Pharmacy units

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Offered

Parkville Full year 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Pharmaceutics [Hons] research unit

Offered

Parkville Full year 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Chemistry [Hons] research unit

Offered

Parkville Full year 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Pharmacology [Hons] Research unit

Offered

Parkville Full year 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Pharmacy practice [Hons] research unit

Leader(s): Dr Ossama El-Kabbani

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

• An introduction to biomolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleotides) and their functions;
• An introduction to protein 3-D structure determination, crystallisation and structures of receptors, membrane proteins, antibodies and co-factors;
• An understanding of enzyme inhibition and classification of enzyme inhibitors;
• An understanding of stereochemistry and conformational analysis of carbohydrates.

Assessment

Various assessments during semester, one 3 hour end of semester examination

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Ben Capuano

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Familiarisation of classical methods of analysis and modern instrumental techniques used in pharmaceutical and related industries. The focus is on the application of techniques of atomic and molecular analysis for the identification, qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmaceuticals and related compounds. Methods include:

• titrimetric analyses
• spectrophotometric analyses
• atomic absorption/emission spectroscopy
• electroanalytical methods including potentiometry,coulometry, conductometry, voltammetry and polarography
• chromatographic applications such as gas-liquid chromatography
• high performance liquid chromatography
• planar chromatography

Objectives

At the completion of this unit, students will:

1. Be familiar with the theory and practice of common methods of analysis and modern instrumental techniques;
2. Have the practical ability to apply the methodologies of such analytical techniques;
3. Understand and appreciate the limitations of modern analytical instrumental techniques.

Assessment

practical exam: 10%; practical work: 20%; MUSO quizzes: 10%, final exam: 60% (3 hours)

Contact hours

36 hours of lectures and tutorials (30 lectures, six tutorials); nine 4 hour practical experiments

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II
PSC1041 (or VPS1041) Mathematics for pharmaceutical sciences
PSC1071 (or VPS1071) Physical chemistry I
PSC1072 (or VPS1072) Physical chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Ian Larson

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit lays a foundation of knowledge about the characterisation and behaviour of colloid sized particles and the role their surfaces play in determining this behaviour. It also provides an introduction to the structure and behaviour of surfactant based systems.

Assessment

exam: 70%; practicals: 20%; self learning: 10%

Contact hours

36 lectures and six three hour practicals

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II
PSC1071 (or VPS1071) Physical chemistry I
PSC1072 (or VPS1072) Physical chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr John Haynes

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will cover:

• pharmacology of neuroeffector systems
• autacoids
• drug-receptor interaction
• cardiovascular pathophysiology and pharmacology
• the central nervous system
• practical classes provide experience through in vivo and in vitro experiments, seminars and discussion groups

Objectives

Students will develop an:

1. Understanding of principles of receptor differentiation, drug--receptor interactions and receptor transduction mechanisms; pharmacological mechanisms by which drugs of various classes may alter biochemical, physiological or pathophysiological parametres to produce therapeutic or unwanted effects;
2. Ability in the area of observation and measurement of pharmacological processes; assessment and integration of pharmacological information as it relates to wanted and unwanted effects produced by drugs;
3. Appreciation of integrated physiological functions, pathophysiological sequelae and pharmacological perturbations as they affect bodily functions; the differing pharmacological approaches available for the treatment of individual diseases; the pharmacists role in optimising drug therapy.

Assessment

mid semester test: 15%; practical class assessment: 15%; exam: 70%

Contact hours

34 lectures, six 5 hour practicals (one of these is computer lab based), two 1 hour tutorials and two 3 hour tutorials

Prerequisites

PSC1081 (or VPS1081) Physiology,
PSC1082 (or VPS1082) Physiology II
PSC1042 (or VPS1042) Introduction to pharmaceutical sciences

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Richard Prankerd

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Thus unit will cover:

• excipients
• carbohydrates and lipids
• surfactants properties, cationic, anionic, non-ionic
• emulsifiers O/W, W/O, secondary
• thickeners, lubricants, humectants, preservatives, solubilizers, coatings
• organoleptics - colours, odours and flavours
• product types - formulation, preparation and stability of powders, compacts, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, foams, aerosols, semi-solids

Objectives

Students will develop an:

1. Understanding of product classes of different forms, general use of excipients in different classes of products, and the mechanisms of physical and chemical degradation of products;
2. Ability to recognise the nature of excipients that will be required for different classes of product, and to predict stability problems based on the physico-chemical properties of the ingredients;
3. Appreciation of the importance and of the possibilities of manipulating the properties of various classes of product by the choice of appropriate excipients.

Assessment

final exam (2.5 hours): 100%

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II
PSC1071 (or VPS1071) Physical chemistry I
PSC1072 (or VPS1072) Physical chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Richard Prankerd

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Stability:

1. Chemical stability - rate processes and rate constants, complex reactions, physicochemical effects on rates, pH rate profiles, hydrolysis of esters and amides, epimerization, dehydration, oxidation, photolysis;
2. Physical stability - water absorption, non-chemical loss, transitions of crystalline state, particle size changes.

Assessment

final exam (2.5 hours): 100%

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II
PSC1071 (or VPS1071) Physical chemistry I
PSC1072 (or VPS1072) Physical chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr James Swarbrick

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

An introduction to the major techniques which underpin the practical aspects of compound identification:

• UV spectroscopy
• IR spectroscopy
• mass spectroscopy
• NMR spectroscopy.

Assessment

practical and tests during semester: 40%; examination (3 hours): 60%

Contact hours

36 hours of lectures and 36 hours of practical classes

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Helen Irving

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to introduce students to essential elements of microbiology and cell biology. Participants in this unit will cover Introductory Microbiology; Eukaryotic Cell Biology; Cell signalling and Development and Cancer. The subject provides an essential foundation for understanding cell biology and its use in the biological research and the pharmaceutical industry.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of basic microbiology including basic technologies classification of microorganisms, and principles of microbial genetics;
2. Explain and analyse molecular biology experiments;
3. Demonstrate an understanding of eukaryotic cell biology;
4. Explain the processes of normal cell function;
5. Describe and explain how organisms develop and respond to environmental signals;
6. Explain how cell control can be deregulated and its consequences;
7. Analyse experiments and experimental techniques that are used in the study of cell biology.

Assessment

on-going assessments: 15%; practical/workshop assignments:20%; final examination (2 hours): 65%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures (3 per week), nine 3 hour practical or workshop sessions and two 1 hour tutorials

Prerequisites

PSC1081 (or VPS1081) Physiology I
PSC1082 (or VPS1082) Physiology II
VPS2011 Pharmaceutical biochemistry

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Dr Ben Boyd

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will cover:

• the Therapeutic Goods Act and relevant regulations and orders
• the Therapeutic Goods Administration
• the Therapeutic Goods Register and the process of Listing and Registration requirements for applications for listing and registration
• the Electronic Lodgement Facility, international registration requirements and procedures
• physical and chemical product specifications, quality control procedures and test methods, stability testing.

Objectives

Students will develop an:

1. Understanding of the regulation of therapeutic goods in Australia and of the process of gaining approval for marketing of therapeutic goods;
2. Ability to prepare specifications for a drug product and to design a stability study to support drug registration;
3. Appreciation of the control of manufacturing conditions for therapeutic goods including the Code of GMP.

Assessment

Various during semester and an end of semester examination

Prerequisites

PSC1042 (or VPS1042) Introduction to pharmaceutical sciences

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://muso.monash.edu.au/webct/entryPage.dowebct

Leader(s): Professor Peter Scammells

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Synthetic Chemistry I lays a foundation of knowledge about the structure and reactivity of the key functional groups found in pharmaceuticals. Participants in this unit will also be introduced to the art of designing and performing multi-step syntheses of bioactive compounds. Knowledge in this area will be further extended in the semester two unit, Synthetic Chemistry II.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the participant will:

1. Have detailed knowledge of the structure and properties of the common functional groups contained in pharmaceuticals;
2. Be able to name organic molecules according to IUPAC nomenclature. Understand the reactivity of these functional groups;
3. Understand basic reaction to mechanisms;
4. Understand basic reaction kinetics and thermodynamics relevant to organic synthesis;
5. Have the practical ability to perform a basic synthetic step;
6. Have the practical ability to isolate and purify reaction products.

Assessment

examination: 50% (2 hours); mid-semester test (1 Hour) 20%; practical work 30%

Contact hours

12 weeks of two lectures per week, one week of one lecture/tutorial and nine 4 hour practicals

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr Bim Graham

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This subject aims to provide students with an understanding of:

1. the principles of coordination and bio-inorganic chemistry and how these relate to the design and synthesis of metal-based and metal-chelating therapeutic agents
2. the utility of organometallic reagents in organic synthesis
3. the fundamentals of pericyclic reactions and their application to the synthesis of bioactive compounds
4. the chemistry used to prepare heterocycles and their substituted derivatives, including several important heterocyclic drugs.

Objectives

After completing this unit students will be expected to be able to:

1. Describe and rationalise the properties of simple coordination complexes;
2. Describe synthetic routes for preparing coordination complexes;
3. Explain how a variety of metal-based therapeutic agents work;
4. Draw mechanisms and rationalise the outcome of a range of organometallic, pericyclic and heterocyclic reactions;
5. Apply knowledge of organometallic, pericyclic and heterocyclic reactions to the design of synthetic routes for preparing simple organic compounds;
6. Describe the syntheses of several important heterocyclic drugs;
7. Demonstrate the development of synthetic laboratory skills appropriate for a 2nd year student;
8. Demonstrate the development of written communications skills appropriate for a 2nd year student.

Assessment

practical exam 10%; practical reports 20%; final examination (2.5 hours) 70%

Contact hours

24 1 hour lectures, twelve 1 hour whole class tutorials, nine 4 hour practical classes (total of 72 hours)

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/browserset.html

Leader(s): Dr David Chalmers

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides an introduction to the techniques and applications of molecular modelling with particular emphasis on methods used in drug design.

The unit contains two streams:

1. Modelling methods - which introduces quantum mechanics, molecular mechanics, energy optimisation and molecular simulation;
2. Modelling applications - which covers quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR), pharmacophores, structure-based drug design and homology modelling.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the student will have the following:

1. A broad understanding of computational chemistry and its application to drug bimolecular problems;
2. An understanding of common molecular modelling terminology;
3. An appreciation of the factors involved in performing quantum mechanical (QM) calculations and the information that these calculations can provide;
4. An appreciation of molecular mechanisms energy calculations and the information that these calculations can provide;
5. An understanding of the components making up molecular mechanic force fields including bond stretching, angle bending and dihedral angle terms and nonbonded interactions (van der Waals and electrostatic);
6. An understanding of molecular potential energy surfaces and the concepts of global and local minima;
7. An appreciation of energy optimisation methods including steepest descents and conjugate gradient methods;
8. An appreciation of approaches to finding global energy minima;
9. An understanding of the Boltzmann distribution and the relationship between temperature and the population of energetic states;
10. An appreciation of molecular simulation methods;
11. An understanding of drug physicochemical properties including electronic, steric and hydrophobic characteristics;
12. An understanding of the statistical methods used to develop QSAR equations;
13. An appreciation of the application of QSAR in drug discovery;
14. An appreciation of impact of drug physicochemical parameters on biopharmaceutical properties;
15. An understanding of the pharmacophore concept and its use in drug discovery;
16. An appreciation of structure and ligand-based drug design an appreciation of homology modelling methods and the ability to use a specific molecular modelling package to study molecular conformation and analyse drug-receptor interactions.

Assessment

practical work/tests: 30%; exam: 70%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures/tutorials and nine 4 hour practicals

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I,
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II
PSC1071 (or VPS1071) Physical chemistry I
PSC1072 (or VPS1072) Physical chemistry II
PSC1041 (or VPS1041) Mathematics for pharmaceutical scientists

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Jamie Simpson

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The principle aim of this subject is to provide students with a detailed knowledge of numerous aspects of synthetic organic chemistry, as it applies to modern medicinal chemistry.

Objectives

The subject follows from BMC2021 and BMC2022, covering advanced organic synthesis and methodology. Topics include catalysis in synthesis, radical chemistry, organometallic chemistry, heterocyclic chemistry, reactive intermediates and stereochemistry, as well as retrosynthetic analysis. An understanding of reaction mechanisms will be emphasized throughout. The practical component reinforces aspects of the lecture course with laboratory experience. At the completion of this unit, students will have:

1. A wider knowledge of synthetic methodology;
2. A knowledge of the use of catalysis in synthetic chemistry;
3. An understanding of radical reactions and their role in synthesis;
4. A broader knowledge of organometallic chemistry;
5. A broader understanding of heterocyclic chemistry;
6. A broader understanding of asymmetric synthesis and methods for the resolution of stereoisomers;
7. The ability to undertake a retrosynthetic analysis and to design a synthesis of a target molecule;
8. The ability to read and understand the synthetic organic chemistry literature;
9. The practical ability to perform a routine synthesis in the laboratory;
10. Experience of most common operations in an synthetic chemistry laboratory.

Assessment

mid semester examination: 10%; practical: 20%; practical examination: 10%; final exam: 60%

Prerequisites

VPS2121 Synthetic chemistry I
VPS2122 Synthetic chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr David Chalmers

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

To provide an overview of the important processes in pharmaceutical development including:

• drug lead identification
• target identification and validation
• proteomics, genomics and pharmacogenomics
• drugs to treat infectious diseases and the use of bioisosteres in drug design
• the importance and application of pharmaceutics in drug development
• the clinical trial process.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit the students will have knowledge of the:

1. Major approaches to drug discovery;
2. The process of identifying a drug target and the steps required to validate that target;
3. Drugs that treat infectious diseases and approaches to developing those drugs;
4. The importance of pharmaceutics in drug development;
5. Regulatory requirements for drugs;
6. The clinical trial process;
7. Legal documentation of pharmaceutical product invention.

Assessment

oral presentation: 15%; written assignment: 15%; final exam: 70%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures

Prerequisites

VPS2062 Pharmacology
VPS2092 Molecular cell biology

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso

Leader(s): Dr Jamie Simpson

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit describes the chemical technologies used in the drug discovery and development process to illustrate advanced chemistry. The unit will build on the previous units of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science. Assignments will be carried out in small teams and will help the students learn how teams work together. Topics include:

• Combinatorial Chemistry and Diversity-Oriented Synthesis: to introduce students to the fundamental principles of combinatorial and diversity-oriented synthesis, as applied to lead discovery and optimisation,
• Ionic Liquids: to introduce the properties and use of alternative solvents such as ionic liquids and supercritical fluids in the synthesis of drugs,
• Synchrotrons for medicinal chemists: to introduce students to synchrotron science and explore its uses and possible uses in chemistry and drug design,
• Click Chemistry and Fragment-based drug discovery: have a broad understanding of the various fragment-based approaches to drug discovery,
• Microreactors/ Microfluidics: to introduce the use of microreactors and microfluidics in synthesis and pharmaceutical preparation,
• Process chemistry: to introduce aspects of process development including reaction optimisation by minimizing handling, optimising transformations and reducing impurities. Large scale purification methods, reaction pathway, solvent and reagent sources.

Objectives

After completion of this unit, students will understand the important modern chemical technologies in the pharmaceutical sciences, and be expected to be able to discuss the following topics:

1. Combinatorial Chemistry and Diversity-Oriented Synthesis:
• Comprehend the basic principles and defining features of combinatorial chemistry and diversity-oriented synthesis;
• Appreciate the utility (and limitations) of combinatorial chemistry and diversity-oriented synthesis in identifying biologically active lead compounds;
• Describe several methods for identifying biologically active compounds within a combinatorial library;
• Contrast the methodology and equipment used in "mix-and-split" versus parallel syntheses, and solid-phase versus solution-phase syntheses;
• Comprehend the chemistry involved in solid-phase peptide synthesis and the synthesis of a number of heterocyclic compound libraries.
2. Ionic Liquids:
• Have a knowledge of alternative solvents of use in synthetic chemistry applications, specifically as applied to synthesis of drugs and drug-like molecules - advantages and disadvantages;
• Be able to describe the types of ionic liquids, as well as their synthesis and properties;
• Have a knowledge of the use of ionic liquids in synthesis;
• Be able to describe the use of supercritical CO2 in synthesis, with specific reference to controlling stereoselectivity in drug synthesis;
• Be able to describe the use of high temperature water in synthesis.
3. Synchrotrons for medicinal chemists:
• To explore how synchrotrons work and understand the properties of synchrotron light;
• To explore the advantages of using synchrotron sources when compared with laboratory sources;
• To develop an understanding of the great range of synchrotron beamlines and their primary uses;
• To explore in more detail the beamlines that are likely to be of use to medicinal chemists;
• To develop a knowledge of synchrotron applications in drug design, drug synthesis, drug analysis and drug interaction;
• Describe and understand how synchrotrons operate, have a knowledge of all the beamlines on the Australian synchrotron and understand the synchrotron advantages;
• Understand in greater detail the beamlines of importance to medicinal chemists;
• Demonstrate a knowledge of the applications of synchrotrons that are relevant to chemists;
4. Click Chemistry and Fragment binding:
• Understand the process of identifying and linking low affinity molecular fragments to product higher affinity ligands for a target biomolecule;
• Have a detailed knowledge of the principles and key reactions involved in dynamic combinatorial chemistry and click chemistry;
• Appreciate the scope of reactions and methods used in linking fragments in situ
• Have a knowledge of the use of x-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry in fragment-based approaches to drug discovery;
• Be familiar with successful examples where a fragment based approach has resulted in high affinity ligands for protein targets.
5. Microreactors/Microfluidics:
• To understand the benefits and problems associated with the use of microreactor and microfluidic methods in the synthesis of pharmaceutically important substances.
6. Process Chemistry:
• To recognise the major factors which drive process chemistry;
• To recognise the challenges involved in transferring discovery processes into large scale process synthesis;
• Appreciate the roles that route, reagent, solvent selection, safety and waste generation play on chemical processing;
• Be able to apply knowledge of the above to transform an expedient synthesis into an optimal synthesis.

Assessment

assignments: 30%; final exam: 70%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures and whole class tutorials as requested

Prerequisites

VPS2082 Introduction to spectroscopy
VPS2092 Molecular cell biology

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/

Leader(s): Dr Martin Scanlon

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The subject expands on the use of spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques and their applications in medicinal chemistry. The use of two dimensional NMR in the identification and characterisation of more complex compounds is introduced. Techniques for the assignment of spectra for more complex molecules will be described and the application of NMR spectroscopy to larger biomolecules will be introduced. The use of NMR spectroscopy to measure the interaction of drugs with biological molecules and the energetic factors which drive the processes of drug-receptor interaction will be described. The uses of mass spectrometry in Medicinal Chemistry will also be expanded upon. After a review of structural elucidation via mass spectrometry, and a brief survey of ion source and mass analysis techniques, we will also cover applications of hyphenated techniques such as GC-MS and LC-MS to the study of medicinal compounds. The MS of additional compound classes such as carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, peptides, and proteins will be considered as well as strategies for effective use of MS in proteomics. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy will also be covered, particularly in regard to its use in the determination of the secondary structure in proteins and nucleic acids. Raman spectroscopy, and more advanced techniques in IR spectroscopy techniques will be introduced. The quantum chemistry and photophysics which forms the basis of electronic spectroscopy techniques will be explained, with an emphasis on fluorescence and its application to proteins.

Objectives

After completing this unit students will be expected to be able to:

1. Analyse and interpret two dimensional spectra so as to identify the chemical structures of compounds;
2. Define the term Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement (NOE) and account for the observation of NOEs in one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR spectra of both small and large molecules;
3. Analyse and interpret NOE data to determine the conformation of small molecules;
4. Analyse and assign two-dimensional NMR spectra of small peptides;
5. Describe quantitatively the relationship between enthalpy, entropy and free energy;
6. Describe quantitatively the relationship between changes in free energy and equilibrium;
7. Apply the concepts of this thermodynamics module to selected examples of biochemical energetics, protein-drug binding and drug-receptor interactions;
8. Describe the principal NMR-based strategies for drug discovery and design;
9. Use mass spectral data for structural elucidation;
10. Understand how to select an appropriate ion source method for a mass spectral study of a compound;
11. Understand and select among the various methods for mass analysis, and the use of collision-induced dissociation (CID) to solve structural problems involving biomolecules;
12. Describe the use of GC-MS and LC-MS for the study of pharmaceuticals and drugs;
13. Analyse mass spectral fragmentation patterns for important compound classes including carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, peptides, and proteins.
14. Use and interpret mass spectral data for proteomics;
15. Describe how circular dichroism spectroscopy is useful for elucidation of secondary structure in proteins and nucleic acids;
16. Describe sampling methods and instrumentation available for IR and Raman spectroscopy and select the most suitable techniques for various applications on an informed basis;
17. Detail the factors which govern photon-initiated electronic excitation, and describe the processes by which molecules can relax. In particular, to describe the phenomena and applications associated with fluorescence;
18. Apply their knowledge of quantum theory and photophysical processes to interpret electronic and vibrational spectra;
19. Measure and record data relevant to the understanding of drug structure and reactivity;
20. Perform numerical calculations based on experimental or theoretical data;
21. Present written or oral results of experimental work.

Assessment

written report (mini-thesis): 60%; laboratory work: 30%; oral presentation: 10%

Contact hours

24 1 hour lectures, 12 1 hour tutorials and nine 4 hour practicals

Prerequisites

VPS2082 Introduction to spectroscopy

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr John Haynes

Offered

Not offered in 2009

Synopsis

To provide students with exposure to sophisticated and advanced biological techniques used in drug discovery.

Objectives

The objectives of this unit encompass:

• applications of stem cell biology in drug discovery and therapeutics
• stem cell culture and modulators of differentiation
• analysis of function in cellular models
• opportunities in cell therapy
• novel targets for design of anti-cancer agents
• RNA interference and gene therapy
• cancer immunotherapy and vaccine design
• protein pharmaceuticals
• experimental design and analysis in pharmaceutical biology.

Assessment

ongoing assessment throughout the semester (practical and workshops: 35%; final exam: 65%)

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures, five 1 hour tutorials, seven 3 hour workshops and 14 hours of self-directed learning

Prerequisites

VPS2062 Pharmacology
VPS2092 Molecular cell biology

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/

Leader(s): Dr Sab Ventura

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

To provide students with an understanding of the importance of knowledge of the disease state in selection of drug targets and implications for drug design and treatment.

Objectives

This unit will provide an extensive overview of the pathophysiology of six clinically relevant disease states. It will include description of the physiological mechanisms which have been affected by the disease and how these systems can be manipulated with currently known pharmacological tools. This will be followed by a description of the logical approach to designing experiments using different biological research methods to identify targets which may be useful therapeutically. The diseases to be covered in this course are:

1. Hypertension and its treatment by various receptor antagonists, enzyme inhibitors and ion channel inhibitors;
2. Benign prostatic hyperplasia and its treatment by receptor antagonists and enzyme inhibitors;
3. Schizophrenia and its treatment by various receptor antagonists;
4. Parkinson's disease and its treatment by neurotransmitter precursors, enzyme inhibitors, receptor antagonists and various indirectly acting and directly acting agonists;
5. Alzheimer's disease and its treatment by enzyme inhibitors and various receptor agonists;
6. Depression and its treatment by transport inhibitors, receptor antagonists and indirectly acting agonists.

Assessment

ongoing assessment and practical workshops: 30%; final exam: 70%

Prerequisites

VPS2062 Pharmacology
VPS2092 Molecular cell biology

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/

Leader(s): Dr David Morton

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The aim of the unit is to:

1. Provide students with exposure to formulation science in an industrial setting;
2. To give students experience in working in teams, problem solving and preparation of reports.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Understand how formulation science projects are run in the industry;
2. Design an experimental approach to solving a formulation problem;
3. Prepare a technical report on experimental work conducted.

Assessment

satisfactory performance at industrial site and project written report

Contact hours

140 hours of practical placements

Prerequisites

VPS2021 Analytical methods
VPS3071 Formulation chemistry III

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/

Leader(s): Dr Ian Larson

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This subject will cover the formulation of agricultural products including herbicides and pesticides, personal care products, veterinary products, foods and beverages and disinfectants and antiseptics. Students will apply their knowledge of excipients to formulate a wide range of products.

Objectives

After completing this unit students will be expected to:

1. Understand the regulatory framework around the use agricultural active ingredients, their transport and safe usage;
2. Develop an understanding of the need for and use of adjuvants in the rational design of agricultural chemical applications;
3. Have an appreciation of the use of experimental factorial design;
4. Understand the terms used in and have a knowledge of standards for, classes of, modes of action and tests of disinfectants and antiseptics;
5. Understand that animal anatomy and physiology, formulation properties, economics, convenience, disposition and pharmacokinetic profile are important in the design and action of veterinary formulations;
6. Understand the rational formulation of and need for moisturisers, cleansers and sunscreens;
7. Understand the role of the formulator, regulatory advisor and QA&QC in Quality Assurance and Regulation of cosmetics and sunscreens;
8. Appreciate the basics of formulating baked goods;
9. Have knowledge of the ingredients in and methods of preservation of processed meats;
10. Have knowledge of the ingredients used in oil based spreads and margarines and of fat replacers;
11. Be able to formulate a range of products in the above categories.

Assessment

antiseptic assignment: 10%; practical reports: 20%; presentation: 5%; final exam: 65%

Contact hours

24 1 hour lectures, one three hour tutorial/presentation and seven three hour practicals

Prerequisites

VPS2102 Product development I
VPS2071 Formulation chemistry I
VPS2072 Formulation chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Ian Larson

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This subject will cover the formulation of nutraceuticals, processed foods, injectables and surface coatings. It will also cover polymer synthesis, structure and properties.

Objectives

At the end of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Describe the principles behind the formulation of nutraceuticals, processed foods, injectables and surface coatings;
2. Define monomer, oligomer, polymer;
3. Describe and illustrate different copolymer structures;
4. Define the functionality of a monomer and gel-point;
5. Differentiate between thermoplastic and thermoset polymers;
6. Describe the key features of addition and condensation polymerization;
7. Describe cationic and anionic polymerization;
8. Explain different polymerization methods;
9. Describe and illustrate different types of isomerism;
10. Define different MW averages and ways they can be measured;
11. Describe the affect solvent quality and temperature have on polymer solution viscosity;
12. List and explain polymer characteristics that affect solubility;
13. Describe the two stages of polymer dissolution;
14. Describe the force balance that determines polymer solubility;
15. Use solubility to predict polymer solubility;
16. Describe the hydrophobic interaction with respect to polymer solubility;
17. Explain the relationships between a polymer's structure and its properties.

Assessment

four directed learning online quizzes: 5% each; self learning 10%; final exam: 70%

Contact hours

24 1 hour lectures

Prerequisites

VPS2102 Product development I
VPS2071 Formulation chemistry I
VPS2072 Formulation chemistry II

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso

Leader(s): Dr Joseph Nicolazzo

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides the student with basic principles of pharmacokinetics and a basic understanding of the factors involved in delivery of drugs via various routes. This unit will provide a basis for later units where the understanding of pharmacokinetics is important.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Determine pharmacokinetic parameters such as half-life, volume of distribution and clearance from plasma level data using simple pharmacokinetic models;
2. Calculate predicted plasma concentrations of drugs given the pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug;
3. Be able to process plasma level data using product moment analysis to determine mean residence times and mean access times;
4. Understand the kinetics of multiple dosing;
5. Understand the physical, chemical and biological factors that control the absorption of drugs administered orally;
6. Understand the concept of bioavailability and how it is measured;
7. Understand the methods of dissolution testing and how dissolution tests can be used to predict bioavailability;
8. Understand the physical, chemical and biological factors affecting parenteral drug delivery;
9. Understand how to formulate injectable products;
10. Understand formulation techniques for poorly water soluble drugs;
11. Understand the factors affecting drug delivery to the eye;
12. Understand the factors affecting drug delivery to the buccal cavity;
13. Understand the factors affecting drug delivery to the nasal cavity;
14. Understand the factors affecting topical and transdermal drug delivery;
15. Understand the factors affecting pulmonary drug delivery;
16. Understand the factors affecting vaginal and rectal drug delivery.

Assessment

various during semester: 20%; end of semster examination: 80%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures and twelve 1 hour tutorials/presentations/conversations

Prerequisites

PSC1082 Physiology II (previously VPS1082)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/

Leader(s): Dr Ben Capuano and Professor Patrick Perlmutter

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to provide students with a foundation for the development of research skills in the area of medicinal chemistry. Students will conduct preliminary medicinal chemistry research encompassing one or more of the core competencies that underpins the degree program, namely chemical synthesis, analysis, structural biology and computational chemistry.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will:

1. Have an improved knowledge and better understanding of some aspects of the basic science concepts supporting medicinal chemistry;
2. Be able to undertake a review of the literature and present an evaluation of the literature;
3. Have a basic understanding of the process involved in developing and planning a research project;
4. Be competent to use relevant analytical instrumentation, conduct experimental procedures and methodologies;
5. Be able to undertake data manipulation and analysis and have a basic understanding the results;
6. Be able to communicate the outcomes of the project in the form of an oral presentation and a written scientific report.

Assessment

written report (mini-thesis): 60%; laboratory work: 30%; oral presentation; 10%

Contact hours

12 6 hour practicals

Prerequisites

VPS2121 Synthetic chemistry I
VPS2122 Synthetic chemistry II
VPS2021 Analytical methods

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/

Leader(s): Dr David Manallack

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will introduce students to the different mechanisms of action by which drugs exert their biological activity. It will address the interactions between endogenous ligands and drugs with their receptors, enzymes or nucleic acids, and the way that drugs mimic, oppose or modify those interactions. Students will be introduced to the scope of medicinal chemistry techniques used in contemporary drug discovery.

Objectives

On completion of this unit student will be able to:

1. Identify the common classes of receptor;
2. Define a receptor agonist, antagonist, inverse agonist and allosteric modulator;
3. Cite examples of how compounds acting at receptors act as therapeutic agents;
4. Describe various classes of enzymes by the reactions they catalyse;
5. Show an understanding of the kinetic properties of enzymes;
6. Describe the utility of substrate analogues, transition state analogues, and irreversibly binding compounds as enzyme inhibitors;
7. Cite examples of how enzyme inhibitors act as therapeutic agents;
8. Describe the role of metal ions in enzymatic processes;
9. Show how platinum-based drugs interact with oligonucleotides to disrupt cell processes;
10. Understand the importance of oligonucleotide structure to protein expression;
11. Show how ligands can recognize and modify DNA tertiary structure;
12. Cite examples of how compounds acting at oligonucleotides act as therapeutics;
13. Distinguish ligand-based design, structure-based design and mechanism-based design strategies;
14. Understand the principles governing the generation of small molecule structure activity relationships;
15. Understand approaches to peptidomimetic design.

Assessment

poster presentation: 10%; practical sessions and reports: 20%; final exam: 70%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures and nine 4 hour practicals

Prerequisites

PSC1021 (or VPS1021) Organic chemistry I
PSC1022 (or VPS1022) Organic chemistry II
VPS2062 Pharmacology
VPS2011 Pharmaceutical biochemistry
VPS2092 Molecular cell biology

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/

Leader(s): Dr David Manallack

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will focus on computational chemistry techniques in conjunction with related disciplines to provide a fundamental background to the field of drug design and drug discovery. The subject will cover a range of important topics in drug discovery:

• structure based design
• pharmacophores
• molecular properties and databases
• an introduction to bioinformatics
• advanced Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR)

Objectives

This course is designed to provide an overview of computational chemistry methods and their application to pharmaceutical design. The unit will draw on fundamental computational chemistry material from previous units into a more practically oriented introduction of how computational techniques are used within a modern drug discovery setting to improve the efficiency of new medicines research. At the completion of this course the student will have an understanding of and be able to
describe:

1. The concept of druglikeness;
2. The importance of understanding molecular physicochemical properties in drug design;
3. The key properties optimised in a drug discovery program;
4. The utility of databases in drug development;
5. The applications of virtual screening in lead identification;
6. The application of pharmacophores for the selection of screening candidates;
7. Basic methods in bioinformatics;
8. The application of advanced QSAR methods.

Assessment

workshop/practical exercises and assignments: 30%; final exam: 70%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures and nine 3 hour practicals

Prerequisites

VPS2141 Computational chemistry
VPS2062 Pharmacology

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/

Leader(s): Dr Ben Boyd

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

• intellectual property
• QA/QC/ISO/HACCP quality management
• HACCP
• ISO standards
• preformulation
• packaging
• chemical stability
• raw materials and product design

Objectives

After completing this unit students will:

1. Assess the role of oxidative processes in food and drug stability;
2. Discuss how the properties of a drug will influence the choice of formulation and the strategy to overcome potential problem associated with the formulation;
3. Be given information on the bulk, physicochemical and stability properties of a drug, provide a clear strategy for the choice and development of a formulation of that drug;
4. Discuss the properties of materials used for packaging;
5. Discuss the considerations in the use of glass, plastic and rubber packaging materials;
6. Evaluate suggested packaging strategies;
7. Understand quality control and quality assurance systems;
8. Have a working knowledge of HACCP;
9. Be acquainted with the ISO series of standards;
10. Understand the patenting process;
11. Be able to write an invention record;
12. Be able to keep records and laboratory notes in a manner suitable for protection of intellectual property;
13. Know how to go about sourcing raw materials.

Assessment

invention record: 10%; practical: 10%; final exam: 80% (students must attain at least 40% in this exam to pass the course)

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures, four 3 hour practical tutorials and 24 hours of self directed learning

Prerequisites

VPS2102 Product development I

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/

Leader(s): Dr Laurence Orlando

Offered

Parkville Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Product development III aims to provide the student with an understanding of the manufacturing issues that may influence formulation practicality.

Objectives

1. To discuss the industrial context and purpose for, as well as the basic theory of processes for: particle size reduction, powder blending, material drying, material handling and transport;
2. Appreciate the types of industrial equipment that may be used in manufacturing a range of formulated products including mixers, mills, material transport and filling machines, labelling machines, pumps and packaging machines, and be able to discuss factors associated with identifying the most appropriate equipment, and materials of construction as well as formulation factors that may be influenced by such different types of manufacturing machinery;
3. Have a basic appreciation of fine powder behaviour and characteristics, and material properties influencing formulation;
4. To discuss the role and general properties to consider as well as applications of various types of packaging and various label types, and to discuss methods/operations involved in production of packaging and labels;
5. Describe good manufacturing practices and quality assurance procedures for contamination control and sterile processing in the industry;
6. Discuss formulation factors affecting microbial stability of the product;
7. Discuss uses and limitations of preservatives, antiseptics and disinfectants.

Assessment

practical work: 10%; contamination control and sterilisation assessment task: 5%; presentation task: 5%; final exam: 70% (students must attain at least 40% in this exam to pass the course)

Contact hours

24 1 hour lectures and eight 3 hour practicals

Prerequisites

PSC1042 Introduction to pharmaceutical sciences (or VPS1042 or VPS1101)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/