BS317-6-SP-CO:
Drug Discovery
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Inactive
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
03 January 2020
Requisites for this module
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Drug design is an important science that aims to develop new and improved therapeutic agents. Rational drug design identifies enzymes and receptors for which drug molecules may be designed and developed to bind with high affinity and high specificity. Consideration of structure for both the drugs and protein targets plays an important role in rational drug design. Biophysical and computer-based methods have a vital role to play in the molecular design of new drugs.
This course covers all these issues and provides practical experience in aspects of computer-aided drug design.
The methods will be illustrated by reference to some of the cutting-edge biotechnology companies that have introduced particularly interesting and effective approaches to drug design. The material will also be illustrated by reference to case studies of particular drugs.
This course aims to cover issues in drug design and provides practical experience in computer-aided drug
To pass this module, students will need to be able to:
1. discuss the process of drug design from initial research through to the clinic;
2. discuss hydrophobic and solvation effects in drug design;
3. discuss bioisosteres;
4. discuss prodrugs;
5. discuss fragment-based drug design;
6. evaluate the role of molecular modelling in drug design;
7. discuss practical aspects of computer-aided drug design, including sequence retrieval, structure building, molecular graphics, docking, assessment of docked structures and quantitative structure activity relationships;
8. discuss the role of bioinformatics in drug design;
9. discuss case studies of drugs, e.g. drugs that target G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) systems and their use in therapy;
10. discuss modern approaches to drug design introduced by cutting-edge biotechnology companies.
No additional information available.
Workshop (10 x 1 h; the workshops will be based on 'lectures' delivered by audio-enabled PowerPoint presentations that should be studied in advance of the workshops)
Practical PC sessions (9 x 1 h supervised, each followed by 5 x 2 h unsupervised)
Discussion classes (1 h)
Revision class(es) (if requested).
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam |
Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 180 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 180 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Christopher Reynolds, email: reync@essex.ac.uk.
Prof Chris Reynolds
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 28 hours, 13 (46.4%) hours available to students:
15 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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