CSB432 Molecules to Medicines

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit builds upon the concepts of medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, drug design, dosage form design and formulations, and metabolism of pharmacological compounds. The unit explores the sources and properties of drugs which form the biologically active and therapeutic components of medicines. This unit will enhance your understanding of the chemistry of medicines, and the biology of cells and receptors to provide a context for the therapeutic use of medicines and their formulations, manufacturing, quality control, and storage. This unit will follow a molecule's journey from discovery, design, and development processes through the phases of clinical trials to regulation and approval as a medicine.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge of the chemistry of the drug molecules and reactivity of common functional groups to predict the physical and chemical properties of biologically active compounds;
2. Explain the process of taking a molecule from its discovery to clinical trials; and
3. Apply knowledge and skills to solve a case about developing molecules to medicines, then discuss your results, and present findings and recommendations to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
4. Working as groups , you will demonstrate team work by completing the task

Content

Learning Approaches

The content presented for this unit may be presented in face-to-face sessions. The teaching content will be presented as workshops (2hr/ week) and a mixture of tutorial and practical experiments (3hrs/week), which will provide a forum to perform problem-solving exercises. Students may visit a pharmaceutical industry (Viatris) and a half-day visit will demonstrate the use of pharmaceutical techniques for a wide variety of medications in an industrial environment. 

Working in groups during practical sessions, you will engage in problem-solving activities completed in class, scaffolded by the theoretical underpinnings discussed in lectures/workshops, tutorials and other instructional digital media. This approach aims to develop your skills needed to become an effective problem solver when facing challenging situations and offers experience in working through the complexity of factors, and dynamics that are involved when working in multi-disciplinary teams. Formative quizzes online will support your self-directed learning and offer feedback on your grasp of the concepts presented.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback on your performance will be provided for each assessment on an individual or group basis as applicable. You will be given online written feedback on formative online quizzes. Group discussion and problem-solving tasks offer regular feedback on knowledge gained. Assessment items receive feedback through criteria-referenced assessment.

Assessment 1: Feedback will be given during the practical demonstrations in the laboratory 

Assessment 2: Online written feedback will be given after submitting the assignments. 

Assessment 3: Oral feedback will be given immediately after completing the final exam. 

Additionally, the unit coordinator/ teaching team will provide case-by-case oral/written feedback in groups/ individuals for all assessment items.

Assessment

Overview

There are three pieces of assessment to be completed in this unit. Each task is designed to assess particular learning outcomes.

Electronic access to resources in school-based examinations may be provided using University computers only (this is at the discretion of the student's equity plan approved by the Faculty). Further details will be provided via Canvas. If electronic access is provided, students should be aware that access to resources cannot be guaranteed and students should ensure they are able to utilise hard copies of the same references.

You will be required to electronically submit all written assignments to content content-matching checks.

Group assessments are to be completed and submitted as a group. Individual submissions will receive a score of 0 for the assessment

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Practical Demonstration

An assessment of laboratory-based understanding of various experiments/ topics undertaken in laboratory classes. For this task you are required to apply problem solving skills, interpret, and evaluate the reactivity, chemical and biological properties of biologically active molecules.

Assessment: Team Problem Solving Assignment

As a pharmacist you will be working in a research and development team to interpret data and submit a report for manufacturing approval of a medicine. A reflection on the team dynamics will be submitted.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: End Semester Exam

This examination will assess your knowledge of the reactivity of common functional groups, the physical and chemical properties of biologically active compounds, and the molecules to medicines journey. This is a combination of multiple choice questions (MCQs), short and long answer questions and relevant calculations.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Costs

Cost of lab gowns and safety protection glasses are the students responsibility.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Allen, L.V., Popovich, N.G.,  Ansel, H. C. (2018). Ansel's pharmaceutical dosage forms and drug delivery systems. Wolter Kluwer.

Aulton, M. E.; Taylor, K. M. Aulton's pharmaceutics: the design and manufacture of medicines: Elsevier Health Sciences, 6th edition, 2021.

Golan, D. E., Tashjian, A. H., Armstrong, E. J., Armstrong, A. W. (2012). Principles of pharmacology: the pathophysiologic basis of drug therapy. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Patrick J Sinko (2017). Martin's Physical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7th edition

Patrick, G. L. (2013). An introduction to medicinal chemistry. Oxford University Press.
Rowland, M., Tozer, T. N. (2005). Clinical pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Roche, V. F. (2012). Foye's principles of medicinal chemistry. Philadelphia, Pa; London: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Safety and protective equipment

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:

• Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
• Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
• Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit includes a laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to view a Health & Safety Induction video and complete an online health and safety quiz prior to being permitted into the laboratory, to access please follow this link Health & Safety Induction. A passing score of 10/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory session. You may repeat the quiz until this score is achieved. You are also referred to the Faculty of Health's Health & Safety Web Site for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Course Learning Outcomes

CS47 Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)

1. Demonstrate expertise in knowledge of medicines, including knowledge of the drug substance and drug action: sources, properties and actions of medicinal substances.
   Relates to: ULO2, Team Problem Solving Assignment, End Semester Exam
2. Demonstrate the formulation and compounding of safe, efficacious and high-quality medicinal products tailored to individual needs.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Practical Demonstration, Team Problem Solving Assignment, End Semester Exam
3. Provide tailored information, advice and documentation using a range of communication modes including written, verbal, non-verbal and digital.
   Relates to: ULO3, Practical Demonstration, Team Problem Solving Assignment
4. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in research and inquiry through questioning and critique, appreciating the complexity and ambiguity of professional practice, using research processes and synthesis to disseminate and apply outcomes in practice.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Practical Demonstration, Team Problem Solving Assignment, End Semester Exam