SMIMM1131U Drug Discovery

Volume 2013/2014
Education
Compulsory for Master of Industrial Drug Development (MIND) students, elective for other part-time master's students at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (subject to study board approval) and open for freelance students who meet the admission criteria.

The course is intended for drug discovery and development professionals who would like to incease their knowledge regarding modern techniques used in target identification and validation, and lead optimisation.
Content
The following topics will be covered in lectures during the course:
  • Target classes: receptors, channels, transporters and enzymes
  • Target identification using bioinformatics, genetics and reverse pharmacology
  • Target evaluation using bioinformatics
  • Target validation using gene knock-down, knock-out and knock-in technologies
  • Drug design aspects related to small molecules and biologics
  • Pitfalls in drug discovery and translational aspects going from a molecular target to whole animals
  • Case stories

Target prioritization, bioinformatics and literature searching will be covered in workshops.

Learning Outcome
The overall objective of the course is to provide the student with a general comprehension of the elements involved in modern drug discovery. Today, almost all drug discovery programs are directed towards design of either small molecules or biologics acting selectively at specific targets. As an initial step, the target involved in a given disease has to be identified and validated, which will subsequently lead to design of ligands acting selectively in a desired fashion at the target. During this lead optimization process a growing number of considerations, besides the action at the disease target, have to be taken into consideration such as ADME, toxicology and production issues. Finally, the lead candidates have to show efficacy in relevant animal disease models before the final candidate can enter pre-clinical studies. In the current course we will focus on the target identification and validation as well as the lead optimization processes.

Upon completion of the course, participants are expected to be able to:

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate comprehension of target identification and validation methods and processes
  • Demonstrate insight into lead optimization methods and processes


Skills

  • Apply basic computational methods in the area of bioinformatics
  • Ability to select important parameters for lead optimization and lead candidate progression
  • Orally present a subject in the drug discovery area (however, this is not part of the assessment)


Competencies

  • Conduct a valid scientific literature study in the area of drug discovery
  • Write a scientifically based report on drug discovery aspects using scientific literature
Literature

A basic knowledge of gene transcription & translation and the drug discovery process is required, which can be obtained by reading chapter 1 from "Analysis of Genes and Genomes" by Richard J. Reece (Wiley, ISBN 0470777826) and chapter 4 from “Drug Discovery and Development" by Humphrey P. Rang (Churchill Livingstone, ISBN 0443064202), respectively. In addition chapter 5 and 6 of the latter book is required reading for the workshop on the first day. Additional chapters of both books cover many of the subjects of the course and are thus recommended reading (a list of recommended reading will be provided before the course). The examination report will be based on a literature search performed by the participants and there is therefore no common syllabus for the course. A couple of reviews will be provided by the organizers prior to the course as an introduction to the examination topic.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:
• A relevant bachelor degree or equivalent
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant job experience
• Proficiency in English
The course is organized as an intensive 5-day course and will comprise approximately 20 lectures, 4 afternoon workshops and an afternoon with student presentations.
Course description approved by the Study Board 18 September 2012.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 20
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 27
  • Theory exercises
  • 15
  • Total
  • 82
Credit
3 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
The individual written assignment is based on a case story. The assignment must be based on original peer-reviewed scientific articles found by literature search performed by the participants and there is therefore no common syllabus for the course. The participants will be introduced to literature searches during the course and the examination assignment is typically based on 20-40 articles.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period
Deadline for submission of written report: 17 March 2014 at 4 PM.
Criteria for exam assesment

The grade 12 is given when the participant:
  • writes a report in his/hers own words, which demonstrates an exhaustive literature search and the most important literature relevant for the selected case has been properly referenced
  • demonstrates an ability to analyze, recapitulate and critically evaluate the most important literature for the selected case
  • demonstrates a correct use of the terms used in the field of drug discovery
  • demonstrates that he/she masters the central concepts in the field of drug discovery and has an ability to combine the disciplines with each other in the analysis of the selected case
  • writes a coherent report, which within the size limit provides an excellent balance of the various sub-topics of the selected case


The grade 7 is given when the participant:

  • writes a report in his/hers own words, which demonstrates a throughout literature search and important literature relevant for the selected case has been properly referenced
  • demonstrates an ability to analyze and recapitulate relevant literature for the selected case
  • demonstrates a fairly correct use of the terms used in the field of drug discovery
  • demonstrates that he/she masters the central concepts in the field of drug discovery and has an understanding of the disciplines relevant for the selected case
  • writes a coherent report, which within the size limit provides a proper balance of the various sub-topics of the selected case


The grade 02 is given when the participant:

  • writes a report in his/hers own words, which demonstrates an satisfactory literature search and some important literature relevant for the selected case has been referenced
  • demonstrates an ability to understand and report relevant literature for the selected case
  • demonstrates knowledge of the terms used in the field of drug discovery
  • demonstrates an understanding of the central concepts and disciplines relevant for the selected case