Drug Discovery and Development (Including Pharmacology) Course Descriptor

Course Summary

This course introduces the drug discovery and development process: target identification, biological screening, hit to lead, pharmacology, safety, manufacturing, pre-clinical and clinical. Focusing on selected case studies, the course explores innovation within a field of complex scientific and strategic decision making, where outcomes and results are unpredictable. Governed by strategic business decisions, ethical considerations, social responsibilities and research at the forefront of bioscience, including genomics, molecular biology, biotechnology and bioinformatics, the examination of drug discovery and development provides insight into exploratory methodologies and interdisciplinary practice. 

Course Aims

• For learners to understand the bioscience techniques and tools used in drug discovery and development.
• To introduce learners to the complexity of drug discovery and development and the wider business, cultural and regulatory contexts within which it operates.
• To enable learners to understand the interdisciplinary nature of drug discovery and development.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, learners will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Professional Skills

Teaching and Learning

This is an e-learning course, taught throughout the year. 

This course can be offered as a standalone short course.

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include: 

• Online learning
• Online discussion groups
• Online assessment

Course information and supplementary materials will be available on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Learners are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Learners are also expected to manage their self-directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

The course learning and teaching hours will be structured as follows:

• Off-the-job learning and teaching (6 days x 7 hours) = 42 hours
• One-the-job learning (12 days x 7 hours) = 84 hours (e.g. 2 days per week for 6 weeks)
• Private study (4 hours per week) = 24 hours

Total = 150 hours

Workplace assignments (see below) will be completed as part of on-the-job learning.

Assessment

Formative

Learners will be formatively assessed during the course by means of set assignments. These will not count towards the final degree but will provide learners with developmental feedback. 

Summative

Assessment will be in two forms:

Feedback

Learners will receive formal feedback in a variety of ways: written (via email or VLE correspondence) and indirectly through online discussion groups. Learners will also attend a formal meeting with their Academic Mentor (and for apprentices, including their Line Manager). These bi or tri-partite reviews will monitor and evaluate the learner’s progress.  

Feedback is provided on summatively assessed assignments and through generic internal examiners’ reports, both of which are posted on the VLE.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to learners; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books 

• Benjamin, B. (2015). Basic principles of drug discovery and development. Amsterdam, Netherlands : Academic Press 2015
• O’Donnell, J. J. (2020). Drug discovery and development (Third edition.). Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group 2020
• Battista, E., Yassin, G. (2012). Pharmacology (4th ed.). Edinburgh : Elsevier

Journals

Learners are encouraged to read material from relevant journals on drug discovery and development as directed by their course leader.

Electronic Resources

Learners are encouraged to consult relevant websites on drug discovery and development.

Indicative Topics

• Drug Discovery and Development Process
• Pharmacology
• Interdisciplinary practice in biosciences