Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology (CHEM3020)

Course overview

Medicinal chemistry is a multidisciplinary science involving molecular design, chemical synthesis and bioassays followed by modifying compound properties for pharmaceutical applications. Medicinal chemistry thus combines organic chemistry with biochemistry, physical chemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, structural biology, computer modelling and molecular biology. Chemical biology involves the application of chemical techniques, analysis, and synthetic chemistry, to the study and manipulation of biological systems.

The course will use examples of successful drugs (e.g., antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatory, anticancer etc) that impact on society to describe the key principles of drug design and discovery (structure, mechanism, analogues, fragment andﾠcomputational approaches to drug design; natural product leads; genomics/proteomics); key classes of drug targets (enzymes, carbohydrates, cell surface/cytosolic/nuclear proteins, nucleotides and genes); drug action (in vitroﾠbinding versus function, ligand receptor interactions, andﾠin vivoﾠactivity); and drug development (hit to lead to clinical candidate, rules for bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity), drug delivery and formulation, drug profiling and personalised medicine).ﾠThe course will also coverﾠthe application of various chemical techniques, analysis, and synthetic chemistry, to the study and manipulation of biological systems.

Course requirements

Assumed background

CHEM2052 will cover the background knowledge that is assumed in the course.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

[CHEM2052 or BIOC2052] or [CHEM2050 or CHEM2901] and [BIOC2000 or BIOC2900]

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

CHEM2054 or CHEM2058 or SCIE2020 or [BIOC2000 or BIOC2900]

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

CHEM3008

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Please checkﾠyour timetable regularly at the start of each semester.

Please check the location on your timetable before the first lecture, as this may change at short notice.

A schedule of the lectures in this subject will be provided in the Learning Resources folder on Blackboard.

Aims and outcomes

The course aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the principles ofﾠmedicinal chemistry and chemical biology.ﾠ

Students should:

1) gain an appreciation of the range of compounds used for medicinal/biological purposes and learn how to design novel compounds to modulate biological processes;ﾠ

2) develop an understanding of how these substances exert their biological activities;

3) acquire laboratory skills to assay biologically active compounds and determine their physicochemical properties.

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Assessment

Assessment summary

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

Quiz

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

15%

Due date

1/09/2025 6:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Written assessment

• Team or group-based

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Written

Category

Tutorial/ Problem Set

Weight

10%

Due date

7/10/2025 2:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Written assessments will be submitted either via Blackboard or as directed by the lecturer.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Applications for extension

Extension applications must be received no later than 24 hours after the published assessment due date and time.

Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.

For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here.

For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D).

Information on medical certificates

Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here.

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.

Laboratory Reports

• Hurdle
• Team or group-based
• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Written

Category

Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

30%

Due date

Week 5 Tue - Week 5 Wed

Week 7 Tue - Week 7 Wed

Week 12 Tue - Week 12 Wed

Tuesday practicals submit by 2pm on the following Tuesday, Wednesday practicals submit by 2pm on the following Wednesday.

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Laboratory reports are to be submitted electronically via Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Applications for extension

Extension applications must be received no later than 24 hours after the published assessment due date and time.

Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.

For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here.

For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D).

Information on medical certificates

Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here.

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

45%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

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.

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):

1.       You must obtain an overall mark of 40% or more on the end of semester exam.

2.       You must complete 100% of the laboratory component of the course.

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

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Notes and other essential resources will be provided through the Blackboard web site only and will not be distributed in class.ﾠ Students are required to access this information for themselves.ﾠ Other reading may be recommended by individual lecturers.

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Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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 for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:

• Laboratory Occupational Health and Safety