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Course profile

Drug Discovery B1 (PHRM3041)

Study period
Sem 1 2025
Location
Dutton Park
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
Dutton Park
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
1
Administrative campus
Dutton Park
Coordinating unit
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences School

Design strategies & structure activity relationships of drugs involving the cardiovascular, renal and respiratory systems. Pharmaceutical aspects of biotechnology.

This course is divided into three modules, which cover the following topics.

Module 1:ᅠ

  • Radiopharmaceuticals and their applications;
  • Biotechnological techniques and assays used in the process of drug development;
  • Biological drugs (e.g. peptides, proteins, monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acids) includingᅠtheir applications and delivery challenges.

Module 2:

  • Discovery and development of drugs for cardiovascular, renal and respiratory diseasesᅠincluding drug pharmacophores and structure-activity relationships.

Module 3:

  • Biological DrugsᅠReportᅠdelivered via a video presentation,ᅠwhich integrates the concepts covered in Modules 1 and 2 throughᅠa literature review on biological and small moleculeᅠdrugsᅠfor dyslipidaemia (PCSK9ᅠinhibitors and statins).

Course requirements

Assumed background

Drug Discovery A1 and first year chemistry are recommended for Drug Discovery B1. A basic understanding of chemical structures, functional groups, and the principles of drug design and molecular biology are recommended.

Incompatible

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

PHRM3040

Restrictions

Only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Pharmacy

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

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

Aims and outcomes

To gain an understanding of radiopharmaceuticals and their applications, as well asᅠbiotechnological techniques and assaysᅠused in the process of drug development.ᅠTo become familiarᅠwith the discovery and development of small molecule and biological drugs (e.g. peptides, proteins, monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acids), especially drugs for cardiovascular, renal and respiratory diseases.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Describe radiopharmaceuticals and explain their basic applications

LO2.

Describe biotechnological techniques and assays used in the process of drug development

LO3.

Describe biological drugs (e.g. peptides, proteins, monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acids) and explain their applications and delivery challenges

LO4.

Describe the key discoveries in the development of drugs for cardiovascular, renal and respiratory diseases

LO5.

Identify the pharmacophore/list the SARs of drugs for cardiovascular, renal and respiratory diseases

LO6.

Demonstrate the ability to review and summarise the academic literature relating to a specific class of drugs

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Quiz Module 1 Online Open-Book Quiz
  • Online
25%

1/04/2025 5:00 pm

Quiz Module 2 Online Open-Book Quiz
  • Online
25%

13/05/2025 5:00 pm

Presentation Module 3 Biological Drugs Report Oral Presentation
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
50%

27/05/2025 11:00 am

Oral presentation held at UQ Dutton Park during the scheduled Workshop.

Assessment details

Module 1 Online Open-Book Quiz

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Quiz
Weight
25%
Due date

1/04/2025 5:00 pm

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

  • ONE attempt is permitted between 11/03/2025 5:00 pm and 1/04/2025 5:00 pm.
  • The quiz questions will cover Module 1 content (i.e. Drug discovery: Biotechnology, Biologics and Radiopharmacy).
  • The quiz duration is 80 minutes. An additional 10 mins is provided as a buffer for any issues that might arise during your quiz.
  • The quiz timer is set to 90 minutes, after which your answers will be saved and submitted automatically (unless you submit them sooner manually). The timer will continue to run if you exit the quiz.
  • The format may be a mixture of question types, for example: calculation, multiple choice, multiple answer, matching, ordering, fill in the blank/s, jumbled sentence/s, either/or (e.g. true/false), short answer, and short essay style questions.
  • Questions may be provided randomly from a pool; therefore, each student may receive a different but equivalent quiz.
  • The quiz will be marked electronically, correct answers will be awarded the marks indicated beside the question, incorrect answers will be awarded zero.
  • This is an individual assessment that you are required to undertake without any form of communication with other students.
  • As an online quiz undertaken in the venue of your choice, the quiz is open book.
  • This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) technologies, successful completion of this assessment task will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which AI will provide only limited support and guidance.

Submission guidelines

Submission: The quiz will be completed electronically in the Learn.UQ (Blackboard) site.

Resubmission: Students who fail this assessment (i.e. obtain less than 50% of available marks) will be offered one opportunity to re-sit; the maximum grade that can be achieved for this assessment on a re-sit will be a pass (50% of available marks). No extension is available on the due date for a resubmission.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

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.

Module 2 Online Open-Book Quiz

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Quiz
Weight
25%
Due date

13/05/2025 5:00 pm

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L04, L05

Task description

  •  ONE attempt is permitted between 8/04/2025 5:00 pm and 13/05/2025 5:00 pm.
  • The quiz questions will cover Module 1 content (i.e. Discovery and Development of Drugs for Cardiovascular, Renal and Respiratory Diseases).
  • The quiz duration is 80 minutes. An additional 10 mins is provided as a buffer for any issues that might arise during your quiz.
  • The quiz timer is set to 90 minutes, after which your answers will be saved and submitted automatically (unless you submit them sooner manually). The timer will continue to run if you exit the quiz.
  • The format may be a mixture of question types, for example: calculation, multiple choice, multiple answer, matching, ordering, fill in the blank/s, jumbled sentence/s, either/or (e.g. true/false), short answer, and short essay style questions.
  • Questions may be provided randomly from a pool; therefore, each student may receive a different but equivalent quiz.
  • The quiz will be marked electronically, correct answers will be awarded the marks indicated beside the question, incorrect answers will be awarded zero.
  • This is an individual assessment that you are required to undertake without any form of communication with other students.
  • As an online quiz undertaken in the venue of your choice, the quiz is open book.
  • This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) technologies, successful completion of this assessment task will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which AI will provide only limited support and guidance. 

Submission guidelines

Submission: The quiz will be completed electronically in the Learn.UQ (Blackboard) site.

Resubmission: Students who fail this assessment (i.e. obtain less than 50% of available marks) will be offered one opportunity to re-sit; the maximum grade that can be achieved for this assessment on a re-sit will be a pass (50% of available marks). No extension is available on the due date for a resubmission.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

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.

Module 3 Biological Drugs Report Oral Presentation

  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
Mode
Oral
Category
Presentation
Weight
50%
Due date

27/05/2025 11:00 am

Oral presentation held at UQ Dutton Park during the scheduled Workshop.

Learning outcomes
L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

  • This report integrates and applies the concepts covered in Modules 1 and 2 through a guided literature review on biological and small molecule drugs for dyslipidaemia (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors and statins). Results are reported in the form of an oral presentation using PowerPoint slides (or equivalent).
  • The oral presentation must be delivered in-person at UQ Dutton Park during the scheduled Workshop. Students may request an earlier presentation slot by contacting the course coordinator, who will approve requests at their discretion.
  • Pay attention to the marking criteria. Marks will be awarded for demonstrating a strong understanding of the subject matter and concepts. This includes providing clear, detailed, and well-organized explanations. To showcase your understanding authentically, aim to speak naturally and avoid reading directly from a script. Instead, focus on engaging with your audience and explaining the topic in your own words.
  • The marking criteria includes marks for time management. You will be penalised for going overtime. The maximum time limit for your presentation is exactly 10:00 minutes. The penalties for being overtime are: ≤ 15 seconds overtime – no penalty; > 15 seconds overtime – 100% loss of timing marks. There is no minimum time limit.
  • If you use any references, include a list using the author-date referencing system, specifically the APA 7th referencing style from the American Psychological Association. The UQ Library has a style guide to help students adhere to the APA 7th conventions. Cite all references that you use, including UQ Extend.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
  • Please refer to Learn.UQ (Blackboard) for the video report instructions and marking criteria.
  • This oral presentation will be recorded and retained as per university policy. The recording will be stored in a secure manner and will only be accessed if required for the purposes of moderation of marking; provision of feedback to the student; and/or re-marking following a successful re-mark application.

Submission guidelines

Submission: The oral presentation will be completed in-person at UQ Dutton Park.

Resubmission: Students who fail this assessment (i.e. obtain less than 50% of available marks) will be offered one opportunity to re-sit; the maximum grade that can be achieved for this assessment on a re-sit will be a pass (50% of available marks). No extension is available on the due date for a resubmission.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

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.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 1 - 29

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 30 - 44

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 45 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

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

Zoom: Access to Zoom via your UQ student account will be required for certain synchronous online classes each week (workshops).

Learning activities

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

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Multiple weeks

From Week 1 To Week 5
(24 Feb - 30 Mar)

Workshop

Module 1 Videos and Workshops: Drug Discovery: Biotechnology, Biologics and Radiopharmacy

This series comprises videos and Zoom workshops covering Drug Discovery: Biotechnology, Biologics and Radiopharmacy. Students should watch the videos on each topic and complete any homework tasks in preparation for the Zoom workshops, which are optional interactive sessions that provide an opportunity for students to ask questions and work through any homework tasks.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Multiple weeks

From Week 6 To Week 10
(31 Mar - 11 May)

Workshop

Module 2 Videos and Workshops: Discovery and Development of Drugs for Cardiovascular, Renal and Respiratory Diseases

This series comprises videos and Zoom workshops covering the discovery and development of drugs for cardiovascular, renal and respiratory diseases. Students should watch the videos on each topic and complete any homework tasks in preparation for the Zoom workshops, which are optional interactive sessions that provide an opportunity for students to ask questions and work through any homework tasks.

Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05

Multiple weeks

From Week 11 To Week 13
(12 May - 01 Jun)

Workshop

Module 3 Biological Drugs Report Workshop and Oral Presentation

Students complete a report in the form of an oral presentation, which integrates and applies the concepts covered in Modules 1 and 2 through a literature review. The workshop in Week 12 provides an opportunity for students to ask questions about the report. The oral presentation is held during the Workshop in Week 13.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

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:

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