Drug Discovery

MSc Full-time

Suitable for International Students?

Yes

Course Introduction

Exciting new opportunities for chemical intervention in disease have emerged based on a greater understanding of the molecular aspects of disease progression. Drug discovery combines the expertise of medicinal chemists required in translating the understanding of the molecular aspects of disease progression to the identification of suitable chemical entities, and the process of optimisation that ultimately leads to the discovery of new medicines.

This exciting course run by the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics is designed to provide students with a 'state-of-the-art' education in modern drug discovery, which meets the demand of employers in the pharmaceutical industry.

Opportunities to learn the latest innovations in drug discovery are provided, including computer-aided drug design and techniques in parallel synthesis, as well as electronic data management.

Course Syllabus

2012/13:

(C) = Core, (O) = Option

Semester 1 (60 Credits - 3 x (C) Modules and 1 x (O) Module):

• Critical Appraisal of a Current Topic in Drug Discovery (20 Credits split over both Semesters, 10 Credits per Semester) (C)
• Principles of Drug Discovery (20 Credits) (C)
• Research and Analytical Methods (20 Credits split over both Semesters, 10 Credits per Semester) (C)
• Molecular Basis of Cancer and Cancer Therapy (20 Credits) (O)
• Toxicology and Safety Pharmacology (20 Credits) (O)

Semester 2 (60 Credits - 2 x (C) Modules and 2 x (O) Modules):

• Critical Appraisal of a Current Topic in Drug Discovery (20 Credits split over both Semesters, 10 Credits per Semester) (C)
• Research and Analytical Methods (20 Credits split over both Semesters, 10 Credits per Semester) (C)
• Case Studies in Drug Discovery (20 Credits) (O)
• Chemical Toolbox for Drug Discovery (20 Credits) (O)
• Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity (20 Credits) (O)

End of Semester 2 onwards (60 Credits - 1 x (C) Module):

• Research Project in Drug Discovery (60 Credits) (C)