6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Synopsis
This unit is designed to introduce the students to the major fields of the applied sciences in which pharmaceutical scientists specialise. The relationships between the different disciplines and their distinct roles in drug discovery and development will be demonstrated. Participants are introduced to the following areas as they apply to the biology, chemistry, and formulation of medicines and related products:
- drug discovery biology
- medicinal chemistry
- formulation science
Students will also have the opportunity to attend specialised seminars on pharmaceutical science research.
Outcomes
At the end of this unit students will be able to:
- Identify and explain the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the signs and symptoms of a given disorder
- Select a suitable therapeutic target for the treatment of a specified disorder
- Design a research plan of experiments to test whether a drug target is suitable
- Identify the key functional groups of current drug molecules and analyse their interactions with biological targets
- Apply the principles of structure-based drug design in drug discovery to create novel drug molecules
- Calculate and evaluate physicochemical characteristics of current and novel drug molecules to ascertain their drug-likeness
- Apply the processes of lead optimization to improve the drug-likeness of designed drug molecules
- Compare and contrast properties and characteristics of selected essential pharmaceutical forms and select a logical pharmaceutical form to create a medicine
- Logically populate the report (IMPD) used in industry with the elements of the chosen form
- Design a presentation using media technology to present the key aspects of the formulation of the medicine
Assessment
Active learning project presentation: 90% (30% per field covered) ; written press release one page report: 10%
Workload requirements
Contact hours for on-campus students:
- Twenty-seven one hour lectures
- Six three hour presentation sessions
- Two one hour computer labs
- Three three hour introduction to discipline research sessions incorporating lab tours
- Two one hour tutorials
- Three fifteen minute interviews
See also Unit timetable information