SLVKA0341U Research Project in Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery

Problem-oriented and case-based teaching. Students work in groups of 3 to 4 on a research project dealing with selected aspects of pre-formulation, formulation and testing of types of drugs. Advisers provide students with a project topic and students are then expected to conduct independent literature studies, formulate the project together with the process adviser, conduct practical laboratory work, and practise making a presentation in a discussion class mid-way through the course. The project is concluded by a project report and subsequent individual oral examination.
The project starts with a planning phase, in which students define the project together with a process adviser on the basis of the project topic and self-selected background literature. Project topics may be defined together with a Danish company (we currently have contact with Lundbeck and Novo Nordisk) and represent a specific problem these companies would like investigated. Then students draft a research protocol, which includes choice of method, regard for the physical-chemical characteristics of the drugs and secondary substances, as well as statistical deliberations. The research protocol will be discussed with internal advisers as well as corporate advisers. Laboratory work will consist of pre-formulation studies, drug development and testing (if possible). Emphasis will be on the systematic testing and mechanical studies of secondary substances and formulation characteristics. Students will make ongoing laboratory portfolios to give them practice in process evaluation. Each student will report on the general course of the process and will contribute to group work.
A discussion class will be held mid-way through the course so that each project group can make an electronic presentation dealing with the project and its current status. The process adviser as well as corporate advisers will participate.
At the end of the course each group will write up a project report based on literature studies and research conducted. The report must contain relevant theories about drugs, secondary substances, types of drugs, indications, biopharmaceutical and pharmacological characteristics. The results found must be reported clearly and precisely in keeping with the conventions in force in English-language journals.