Challenges of drug development: past and future (P02359)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : MED-P-MED

This course covers current and emerging challenges facing the biopharmaceutical industry and the major role Translational Medicine will play in future drug development strategies. An overview of major drug targets, their elucidation, and relationship to key disease states will be covered. Current strategies and process flow for drug discovery and development within the pharmaceutical industry will be outlined. Coverage will be given of the challenges and barriers to established processes for drug discovery and development. The reasons and rational behind the adoption of Translational Medicine research strategies by the pharmaceutical industry as a means to enhance and maximise drug discovery programmes will be described. This includes consideration of the imperatives to identify new targets and mechanisms for a variety of disease systems, and to facilitate the drive towards personalised medicine. Examples of Translational Medicine 'in action' will be given.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : None other than the programme entry requirements

? Co-requisites : All students registered for Certificate in Translational Medicine MUST do this core course.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : All courses will be delivered by distance learning, using WebCT as the delivery platform. Registered students are provided with a user name and password that allows them to access a protected course web site. The website provides a variety of educational material and supports a range of approaches by the students to the material provided. Online delivery will be supported through the provision of video cassettes and interactive multimedia tutorials and discussions with peers and tutors. The website also houses a number of interactive tutorials that allow students to work with information in a self-paced manner to test their understanding of important concepts and principles.

Study guides with lecture notes are available, either to be read on screen or printed by the students for private use. Selected readings from relevant journals and textbooks are also provided. A CD ROM of the course readings is mailed to each student at the beginning of the year.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Translational Medicine, (Medicine, Schedule R)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Additional Class Information : The course will be delivered by distance learning, using WebCT as the delivery platform. The total workload (including self-directed study) for the course will be approximately 100 hours.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

The Certificate will provide participants with an in depth understanding of the rationale and impact of Translational Medicine and appreciation of its increasingly important role to medical research, the drug development industry and regulatory sectors. The multidisciplinary, integrative and interactive nature of Translational Medicine will be highlighted and understanding of its relevance and impact to scientific, medical and societal sectors will be gained. Participants will thereby gain a sound understanding of the essential elements of translational Medicine, equipping them to engage further in this rapidly evolving field. Consequently, the Certificate will have relevance to clinicians and scientists engaged in academic and industrial research as well as to those in allied healthcare and regulatory sectors.