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Drugs: From Discovery to Market (PHRM30008)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Subject Coordinators
Dr Graham Mackay
gmackay@unimelb.edu.au
Prof Alastair Stewart
astew@unimelb.edu.au
Administrative Coordination
BiomedSci-AcademicServices@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will provide an overview of modern drug discovery and development, with an emphasis on the pharmacology that underpins the endeavour. The social, economic and scientific challenges facing contemporary drug discovery and development with respect to choice of suitable drug targets will be discussed; current drug targets, including receptors and enzymes, will be highlighted. Strategies – contrasting the complementary chemical-to-target and target-to-chemical approaches – to identify and optimise lead compounds will be presented. The material will include a discussion of small molecules as well as “biologicals”, such as antibodies and nucleotides. A description of how these lead compounds become drug candidates and are characterised with regards to their pharmacodynamic (receptor binding and activation), pharmacokinetic (ability to reach their site of action) and toxicological/safety pharmacology properties will be provided. Finally the approaches to bring an identified drug candidate to the market will be examined. This part of the subject will consider the necessary human clinical trials, regulatory requirements and ongoing monitoring of approved drugs. The subject material will be presented via a combination of lectures, associated online learning materials, and “hot topic” tutorials. The latter will focus on recent innovations in drug discovery, and will serve to highlight the close relationship between basic science and actual therapeutic agents.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students will be able to :
- Describe the strategies and processes that underpin modern drug discovery and development
- Effectively synthesise and discuss the pharmacological principles that support drug discovery and development, and the vital role that pharmacologists play in this endeavour
- Adapt to future developments and challenges in the field of drug discovery and development as they occur
- Critically synthesise and evaluate knowledge from multiple sources
- Demonstrate experience in independent learning
Generic skills
By the end of this subject, students will:
- be adept at learning in a variety of ways
- be able to examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge from multiple sources
- have gained experience in independent learning
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
BSc students:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHRM20001 | Pharmacology: How Drugs Work | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BBiomed students:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BIOM20002 | Human Structure and Function | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
25 |
Breadth students:
Students wishing to undertake this subject as breadth will need the approval of the subject co-ordinator.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
534-301
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
3 x 20-minute multiple-choice online quizzes. (8-10 questions each).
| Throughout the semester | 10% |
MST
| From Week 6 to Week 8 | 15% |
Written Project
| From Week 8 to Week 10 | 15% |
Written Exam
| During the examination period | 60% |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Graham Mackay Coordinator Alastair Stewart Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022 Semester 2 contact information
Subject Coordinators
Dr Graham Mackay
gmackay@unimelb.edu.auProf Alastair Stewart
astew@unimelb.edu.auAdministrative Coordination
BiomedSci-AcademicServices@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
Recommended texts and other resources
Recommended textbooks used by staff in the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics (many of which are available electronically through the library) include the most current or recent editions of:
- Ritter et al, Rang & Dale’s Pharmacology; Elsevier.
- Golan et al, Principles of Pharmacology; Wolters Kluwer.
- Craig & Stitzel, Modern Pharmacology with Clinical Applications; Wolters Kluwer
- Katzung, Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, Lange
- Hardman et al., Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics; McGraw Hill.
- Subject notes
This subject is available to students enrolled in the pre 2008 BSc, New Generation BSc, Biomedicine degree.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Biomedical Biotechnology specialisation Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI Informal specialisation Biomedical Biotechnology Informal specialisation Medicinal Chemistry specialisation Informal specialisation Medicinal Chemistry Informal specialisation Medicinal Chemistry Major Pharmacology Major Pharmacology Major Medicinal Chemistry - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024