CVB218 Drug Discovery and Design

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit investigates the evolution of the pharmaceutical industry, modern drug discovery methods and drug targets and explores the concept of chemical structure in relation to drug properties and drug design. The unit provides knowledge and skills at the interface between chemistry and biology relating to the drug discovery process. As the pharmaceutical industry represents a large international concern, offering many employment opportunities, and there is also significant growth in the bio-economy, dealing with bioactive molecules such as food additives and supplements, cosmetics, pesticides and other agricultural bio-chemicals, it is important for students to develop a broad appreciation of the pharmaceutical industry at large. This unit builds on foundation chemistry and biology knowledge as part of the Medicinal Chemistry and Biology minor and complements the BVB212 Drug Action unit.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Classify different medicinal chemicals according to their chemical family and biological activity
2. Explain how the chemical properties of a drug molecule influence its biological activity
3. Investigate the basic properties of a drug and describe them in a scientific report
4. Investigate the life and history of a drug, in the context of its discovery, development, path to market and impact on human health.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit will use an inquiry-based learning approach involving collaborative group work to explore the multiple dimensions which apply to the study of medicinal compounds.

Lectorials and discussion forums will be used to provide an introduction to general principles, which will be applied when you make an in-depth study of a particular medicinal compound, including its chemistry, biological actions, social impact and any associated legal or ethical issues.

Computer software will be used allow you to experiment with drug design, learning the principles of chemical structure, conformation and physico-chemical properties.

Laboratory classes will enable you to investigate the effects of a family of compounds which differ slightly in chemical structure, on a biological screening target. This will allow you to appreciate first-hand, the relationship between chemical structure and biological efficacy.

Guest speakers from the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory authorities will provide an appreciation of the economic, industrial social and political dimensions of the drug pipeline, including topics such as 'orphan drugs'. This will also assist in building linkages with potential employers.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Formative assessment by rolling quizzes will give you practice and ongoing feedback on your knowledge and understanding of concepts throughout semester, with oral peer and teacher feedback in lectorials and collaborative workshops. You will obtain written feedback on your laboratory reports, which will be annotated and returned to you. Feedback from assignments and formative quizzes will prepare you well to improve your learning for the final theory assessment.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment in this unit will be divided into three elements:

A portfolio of short practical reports will detail the outcome of experiments conducted in the virtual laboratory or by computer simulation. This traditional style of report will capture the hypothesis, experimental methods, results, discussion and conclusions.

A group presentation of the results of your investigation of a particular compound (including peer assessment); this will assess your ability to apply and graphically communicate outcomes of scientific investigation in a team setting.

A final open-book assessment will assess your recall and understanding of the drug classification system and your ability to interpret pharmacological data.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Portfolio

You will prepare a series of short written reports after each practical exercise, submitted throughout the semester

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

Assessment: Presentation

You will investigate a particular compound and prepare a poster using Google docs, with a component of peer assessment

Assessment: Final examination

You will undertake a open-book exam involving short answer questions.

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.

Resources

Resource Materials

Safety and protective equipment

Laboratory coat and safety glasses.

Risk Assessment Statement

The chemicals and procedures used in this unit are deemed to be appropriate for students at this level of the course. You will be provided with a Laboratory Health and Safety Manual in this unit. Health and Safety information and precautions relevant to the particular experiments are clearly explained in the Practical Manual. Having been provided with this information, it is your responsibility to read and comply with these instructions for the safety of yourself, your fellow students and staff.