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Pharmaceutical & Biochemical Production (CHEN90039)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Dr George Chen
Email: gechen@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
This subject aims to provide an advanced understanding of pharmaceutical and biochemical production processes; students will learn about processes in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
How are drugs made? What steps are required to progress a successful drug candidate from the laboratory to large scale manufacture? How can cells and enzymes be used in manufacturing? This subject will answer these questions, examining unit operations and the design and operation of manufacturing processes that are used to make a range of products including opiates, blood plasma products, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and other medicines. Unit operations will include the growth of bacterial, animal, plant and fungal cells, cell disruption and methods for product separation and purification, such as chromatography. Case studies will include the production of recombinant proteins and amino acids and the genetic techniques required to make these products. The sustainable production of other biochemicals will also be discussed, including biofuels and the growth of algae. Students will learn how cellular processes can also be used by chemical engineers to improve process efficiencies, clean up our environment and reduce chemical waste. Regulation, Good Manufacturing Practice and Validation processes will be introduced, along with the design of laboratories, pilot plants and manufacturing facilities and associated utilities and services. Industry speakers will also highlight new opportunities and best practice within the Australian pharmaceutical industry. Students will also be introduced to relevant analytical techniques used to track production and purity and will become familiar with the research literature in this field.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Describe typical production processes for common pharmaceuticals
- Discuss the role of chemical engineering in pharmaceutical development, the regulatory standards that apply to such products and the business drivers for product development
- Apply systems approaches to describe how changes to a cell can be used to make new biochemical products
- Describe the processes in research, development and practice that may increase the sustainability of biochemical and other production processes
- Describe a range of biochemical products and develop create strategies to produce and purify these products
- Discuss the synergies between biochemistry and chemical engineering .
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
- In-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline
- Ability to function effectively as an individual and in teams
- Capacity for independent critical thought, rational enquiry and self-directed learning
- Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CHEN90031 | Sustainable Bioprocessing | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BMEN90036 | Biofluid Mechanics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BMEN30007 Biotransport Processes
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
BIEN90004 Biochemical & Pharmaceutical Engineering
CHEN90016 Metabolic Engineering
Recommended background knowledge
One of:
BIOL10002 Biomolecules and Cells
BIOL10004 Biology of Cells and Organisms
CHEN90031 Bioprocess Engineering
And one of:
CHEM10006 Chemistry for Biomedicine
CHEM10003 Chemistry 1
And:
MAST10006 Calculus 2
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Semester 2
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Four assignments, not exceeding 2000 words in total, 35-40 hours of work required. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1 to 6 are addressed in this activity.
| Due around week 4, 6 , 8 and 10 of the semester | 40% |
One closed-book written examination of 3 hours. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1 to 6 are addressed in this activity.
| During the examination period | 60% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator George Chen Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 67 hours = 34 hours of lectures + 8 hours of tutorials + 10 hours of practicals + 15 hours of industrial site tours/ workshop(s) Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
Dr George Chen
Email: gechen@unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Engineering Specialisation (formal) Biochemical Specialisation (formal) Biomedical Specialisation (formal) Chemical Specialisation (formal) Chemical with Business - 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.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- 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: 31 January 2024