Course coordinator
Dr Kevin M. Koo
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Chemistry & Molec Biosciences
Biologics include a wide range of products that include vaccines, blood and blood components, somatic cells, gene therapy, tissues and tissue-engineered products, and recombinant therapeutic proteins. The course will cover a variety of topics associated with the discovery, development, characterisation and production of biologics as human therapeutics, focussing predominantly on recombinant therapeutic proteins. The course will provide an in-depth coverage of the technologies and bioprocesses associated with biologics production. The course will also have a major focus on the global biologics industry and its continued evolution.
This course is designed to give students an in-depth appreciation of the many facets of biologics including definitions, discovery, classes of biologics,ﾠtherapeutic modalities, fermentation processes, downstream processing, process economics, regulatory considerations and Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP).ﾠAn analysisﾠof enabling technologies is also given to demonstrate the many disciplines behind the recent spectacular increase in the number of biologics approved for treatment of human, animal, and plant diseases.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are assumed to have some basic knowledge and understanding of biology and biochemistry.ﾠ
Jointly taught details
This course is jointly-taught with:
- Another instance of the same course
Jointly taught with BIOT7018 (External)
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Kevin M. Koo
Mr Ben Hughes
Dr Richard Lobb
Professor David Owen
Dr Conan Wang
Dr Martina Jones
Dr Theo Crawford
Dr Nick Fletcher
Dr Rachel Stephenson
Dr Helen Gunter
Dr Pablo Canete
Dr Justin Goh
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please check your timetable regularly at the start of semester.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide students with a broadﾠunderstanding of the global biologics industry, and covers the many aspects of biologics discovery, production, andﾠapplication. The course also covers in detail the enabling technologies that have allowed the rapid development and expansion of the global industry and the number of licensed products, and demonstrates how these enabling technologies such as recombinant DNA technology, genomics, proteomics, and pharmacogenomics have underpinned this development.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Competently appraise the global biologics industry and future opportunities.
LO2.
Explain the enabling technologies underpinning the research and development of biologics.
LO3.
Discuss in detail the classes of biologics, therapeutic modalities, production and purification processes, process economics and analytical testing of biologic preparations.
LO4.
Critically assess and appraise relevant literature in biologics and draw parallels between biologicals and conventional pharmaceuticals.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
TBL Session Blackboard Quiz
|
10% |
28/02/2025 - 23/05/2025
At the TBL session at 8:35 am |
| Presentation |
Biologics Presentation
|
35% |
7/05/2025 2:00 pm |
| Examination |
End of Semester Exam
|
55% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
TBL Session Blackboard Quiz
- Hurdle
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
28/02/2025 - 23/05/2025
At the TBL session at 8:35 am
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
To allow you to more critically review the content delivered in the lecture, and to prepare and practice for the final exam, during the first half of each Team-based learning (TBL) session on Weeks 1-12 (*except Week 8 due to public holiday) you will need to complete a set of 1-3 questions that covers course content addressed in the lecture directly preceding each TBL session. You will have 30 minutes to complete and submit each quiz via Blackboard, starting at 8:05 am and submitting no later than 8:35 am. The quiz must be submitted by due time during the TBL session to avoid late penalties. Strict late penalties apply, since feedback will ONLY be provided on the second half of the TBL session, after due time.
There will be 10 quizzes during the semester. Each quiz accounts for 1% of the total mark (in which each question accounts for a fraction of the total, .e.g if the quiz has two questions then each question is worth 0.5%), where the worst grade received on the quizzes will not be counted towards the final mark, for a total of 10% (10/10 quizzes).
**To provide you with an incentive to practise your skills, full marks will be awarded if you provide a complete answer to each question, even if the answer is not completely correct.. The correct answer for each question will be provided by the lecturer(s) on the second half of the TBL session. Please note that the TBL sessions will NOT be recorded.
Since this assessment is designed to help you prepare for the final exam, you are allowed to and must use the material from the lecture to answer the questions. In order to mimic a final exam situation, you are encouraged to work individually. Browsing the web or using AI to answer the questions will not help you achieve the goal of this assessment.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
Submitted through Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
Late Submission Penalty
For submissions:
- less than 5 minutes late: 5% penalty
- between 5 minutes to less than 15 minutes late: 20% penalty
- more than 15 minutes late: 100% penalty
Biologics Presentation
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
7/05/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
You are required to make a 4-minute video presentation on a selected biologic. The biologic could be a recombinant protein, oligonucleotide, a cell-based therapy, or a nanomedicine. The selected biological product must be approved for human or agricultural (animal or plant) use.
The presentation should be structured like an academic conference presentation. You should assume that your audience has background knowledge on the general field of biologics but not specifically on the sub-type of biologic that you will talk about. Your presentation should clearly and concisely explain the background and any relevant scientific concepts related to the topic chosen for your assignment.
Full instructions on this assessment, how this should be performed, and suggestions on how to tackle this assignment will be provided in class and will be available through Blackboard. You will work individually on this assignment and during the recording you must use your own voice and your face while you speak must appear in the presentation for at least 1 minute of the recording.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT)
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
The video will be submitted electronically on BlackBoard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here: my.UQ Applying for an extension.
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide approved documentation to support your application by the due date and time, you must still submit your application by the deadline but with an attached Word document that outlines why you cannot provide the approved documentation by the deadline. You will then need to acquire and upload the approved documentation to your request within 24 hours. Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting by the requested due date and time.
Prolonged Absence
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g. a medical certificate.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.
In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.
End of Semester Exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 55%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
There will be a mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions covering the entire lecture program (which includes all lectures given in the course).
This will be an in person, invigilated, closed book exam.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Limited knowledge of fundamentals. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Poor knowledge of fundamentals, no critical analysis. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. This is a fail. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Fair knowledge of fundamentals, clear reasoning and average critical analysis of previously unseen problems. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Good knowledge of fundamentals, clear reasoning and fair critical analysis of previously unseen problems. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Excellent knowledge of fundamentals, clear precise reasoning and good critical analysis of previously unseen problems. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Outstanding knowledge of fundamentals, clear precise, correct reasoning and excellent critical analysis of previously unseen problems. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% |
Additional course grading information
Assessment Hurdles
In order to pass this course, you must meet ALL of the following requirements (if you do not meet these requirements, the maximum grade you will receive will be a 3):
- You must obtain an overall course mark of 50% or more; and
- You must obtain an overall mark of 40% or more on the end of semester exam; and
- You must obtain a minimum weighted average mark of 40% across all other non-examination course assessment items
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Assessment Submission
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the on time, correct and complete submission of all assessment items.
Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (for example, screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
In the case of a Blackboard outage, contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.
Assessment/Attendance
Notify your Course Coordinator as soon as you become aware of any issue that may affect your ability to meet the assessment/attendance requirements of the course. The my.UQ website and the Course Profile (CP) for your course provide information about your course requirements, the rules associated with your courses and services offered by the University.
A note for repeating students in this course
Only learning activities and/or assessment items completed during the study period of enrolment, including any approved extensions, may contribute to your grade in this course. The whole or partial use of assessment items previously submitted for the same course, for a course at any institution, or for published material, is not permitted without written permission of the Course Coordinator.
Important Note
Turnitin is to be used for assignments/laboratory reports to check for plagiarism. Penalties can be severe for plagiarism.
The University has adopted the following definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another either intentionally or unintentionally. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.
Students should read the UQ Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Blackboard
Additional supplementary material may be posted on the Blackboard site for BIOT7018 at learn.uq.edu.au
Please check the Announcements section of the Blackboard site regularly for information updates.
ﾠ
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Problem-based learning |
Quiz Blackboard quiz during TBL Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Fieldwork |
Optional site visit Site visit to Biomanufacturing facility. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Lecture series Please refer to the Course timetable available on the Blackboard site for detailed information. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 12 |
Workshop |
Team based learning Revision and critical analysis of lecture material. Please refer to the Course timetable available on the Blackboard site for detailed information, and section 4.2 below. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.