Entry requirements

For students in the pharmacy programme; At least 150 credits from term 1-7 of which 60 credits pharmaceutical chemistry including organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

For the Master of Science Programme in Chemical Engineering, at least 150 credits are required within the programme including organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Admitted to the Master's programme (two-year) in biomedicine.

For single subject course: 150 credits including at least 22.5 credits organic chemistry of which 10.5 credits at level B or the equivalent knowledge which are tested individually. Knowledge in English equivalent what is required for general entry claims to Swedish first-cycle programmes.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

- explain how a molecular mechanics force field is constructed

- account for the bases in PCA and PLS

- account for the bases in molecular recognition

- describe strategies to convert peptides to drug-alike molecules

COMPETENCE AND SKILLS

- apply 3D-QSAR methodology to predict biological effect

- dock molecules to a target protein

- carry out a conformational analysis

- carry out a database search to identify molecules that satisfy different pharmacophore criteria

- calculate physico-chemical descriptors and use these in QSAR analyses

- use multivariate techniques to select datasets based on molecular diversity

- build and use in silico models to predict drug absorption

- rank and select molecules based on their predicted biological effects and properties

- orally present and discuss scientific results in English

JUDGEMENT AND APPROACH

- demonstrate insight of the use of predictive models to promote sustainable development

Content

The course gives an introduction to methods and strategies that are used in drug discovery with a focus on computer-aided drug design. The course includes components such as conformational analysis, ligand-based design, peptide modelling, structure-based design, multivariate analysis, and 3D-QSAR. The content of the course is to a large extent included in computer exercises that includes training in software used in drug discovery projects in the industry.

Instruction

The teaching is given in the form of lectures, seminars and computer exercises. All computer exercises are compulsory.

Assessment

Examination is arranged at the end of the course. A passing grade requires passed individual oral presentation in English of a project work, a passed written examination, and participation in all compulsory parts of the course. Each student has the right to take in all six examinations, i.e. one examination and five re-examinations. Completion of compulsory parts takes place by agreement with course coordinator.