- Course Code
- BT5003
- Credit Points
- 25
- Course Coordinator
- Prof Andy Porter
Pre-requisites
Degree at 2II or above from an appropriate academic institution in a science discipline. Appropriate level of written and spoken English. Appropriate level of funding
Overview
Introductory lectures covering background to Drug Discovery followed by a series of more detailed lectures and research tutorials in the areas of lead candidate identification, drug development and molecular toxicology. Assessment 1: Preparation of 15 min presentation followed by 15 min viva. The subject area will be either a “drug class”, or drugs that treat a particular “disease area or type”. The final selection of presentation title/subject will be chosen by the students (with guidance from staff). The presentation will be delivered to the MSc class and questions can come from both students and academic staff. Assessment will be 65% by two academic staff and 35% by class of peers. Assessment 2: Preparing a promotional flyer that explains and “sells” the benefits of our society’s reliance on drugs and medicines. The target audience should be imagined as non-scientists. Assessment will be 65% by two academic staff and 35% by class of peers (if possible this may include non-scientists). Assessment 3: Two 1500 word essays. Titles will be made available to the students in the second week of the course. Essays will be prepared under exam conditions in the final week of the course.
Structure
Daily one hour lectures (typically 10 or 11 am - four out of five days per week), 10 hours of research tutorials (1 per week – to be arranged) and 10 hours of extended tutorials (research lectorials) during weeks 18 and 19.
Assessment
Continuous assessment 100% - Assessment 1 – Presentation and viva – 20% of final mark
Assessment 2 – Flyer communicating applied science to non-scientist – 10% final mark
Assessment 3 – 2 x 1500 word essays under exam conditions – 35 % per essay
1 three hour written examination (100%)