Course coordinator
Professor Amirali Popat
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 16/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- Dutton Park
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Dutton Park
- Coordinating unit
- Pharmacy School
This pharmaceutical science course focuses on the study and application of research in pharmaceutical drug delivery technologies and how it can be applied to clinical context. The objectives are to educate students in research-based strategies for drug formulation development and enable them to integrate their understanding of quality medicine use, drug discovery, and dosage form design concepts.
This course, centred on an inquiry-based curriculum, immerses students in independent research to tackle clinical cases through formulation approaches. Working collaboratively in groups, students will engage in hands-on laboratory work over a three-week period (6 h per week), applying their theoretical knowledge to develop hypotheses, and to develop and optimise pharmaceutical formulations. This course aims to enhance critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and practical expertise, preparing students for the complexities of pharmaceutical research and development to be applied in clinical scenarios such as compounding pharmacy, hospitals, R&D, and community pharmacy. Through this immersive experience, students will gain invaluable insights into the intricacies of drug formulation and its clinical applications.
Course requirements
Assumed background
You are expected to have completed and understand the concepts covered in PHRM2201, PHRM2202, PHRM3201.
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
PHRM2201, PHRM2202
Restrictions
2373 - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Professor Amirali Popat
Tutor
Mr Zheng Zheng
Mr Liam Krueger
Miss Nisha Tyagi
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
In week 1, 2 & 13 all students will participate in 2 h workshop face to face. From week 3 through to week 9 students will be scheduled into a 3 week consecutive block of 6 hours per week to conduct group-based laboratory research projects.
Aims and outcomes
Pharmacists need to grasp the physicochemical principles of drug formulation and delivery to compound medicines, choose suitable dosage forms, and predict drug effectiveness. This course heavily emphasizes research, active learning, data analysis, and interpretation. Students will conduct a research project in teams, simulating clinical scenarios, and develop a prototype formulation, assessing its validity using variety of quality control tests.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate and apply principles of drug delivery to hypothesise, propose and justify optimum solutions in developing new formulation
LO2.
Integrate and apply Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) to range of formulation concepts
LO3.
Integrate evidence from variety of sources and hypothesise a potential solution using the pharmaceutical sciences to solve a clinical problem
LO4.
Create and evaluate a pharmaceutical product using range of appropriate formulation and analytical methods with a view to optimise the properties of the product
LO5.
Justify the formulation design based on literature and experimental data via written and oral modes of communication
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Quiz
|
20% |
9/08/2024 5:00 pm
Complete the quiz at any time during the 7 days prior to the due date. |
| Practical/ Demonstration |
Creation of 3D printed tablet, suspension or capsule - Product submission
|
10% |
25/10/2024 |
| Presentation |
Video/Oral Presentation
|
30% |
8/10/2024 9:00 am |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Research Report | 40% |
8/11/2024 |
Assessment details
Quiz
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
9/08/2024 5:00 pm
Complete the quiz at any time during the 7 days prior to the due date.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
The online open-book quiz will assess your learning in week 1 and 2.
- The quiz will be available for a 7-day period and can be taken at any time during that window.
- The quiz duration is 40 minutes.
- The format may be a mixture of question types, for example, 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.
- This is an online open book quiz undertaken in the venue of your choice.
- You are required to undertake the quiz without any form of communication with other students.
Submission guidelines
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.
Creation of 3D printed tablet, suspension or capsule - Product submission
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
25/10/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
Your team will be assigned to formulate and prepare one of the following three dosage forms for a medication: 3D-printed tablets, a suspension, or a capsule formulation. Your team will also conduct pharmaceutical assays as applicable to the dosage form (e.g. uniformity of weight, disintegration, dissolution, viscosity). Your final product will be submitted for assessment.
Submission guidelines
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.
Video/Oral Presentation
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
8/10/2024 9:00 am
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
This is a group assessment. In this video you will describe the methods that you used and the prototype that you created.
- The report will be in the form of a pre-recorded video presentation using PowerPoint slides (or equivalent). Submit both the video and a pdf of the slides.
- All members of the team must contribute to the preparation of the slides and filming of the video.
- Your camera must be turned on and your face visible during the entire presentation video. Any parts of the presentation that do not comply with this requirement will receive a mark of zero.
- All members of the team will receive the same mark for this assessment.
Submission guidelines
Submit your video file and pdf of the slides via the link provided in the PHRM3202 Learn.UQ site.
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.
Research Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
8/11/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
You will prepare a written report on your research hypothesis and rationale, and your approach to creating and testing your prototype.
This is an individual assessment item.
Refer to the Learn.UQ site for information.
Submission guidelines
Submission will be via the Turnitin link provided at Learn.UQ (Blackboard).
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.
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. |
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
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratory coat | For your health and safety, you will not be allowed to enter the laboratory without this item. | own item needed |
| Safety glasses | For your health and safety, you will not be allowed to enter the laboratory without this item. | own item needed |
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 From Week 1 To Week 2 |
Workshop |
Pharmaceutical research topics: workshops Attend a 2-hour workshop to discuss and practice questions: Week 1 - Pharmaceutical research and personalised medicine Week 2 - Delivery of Biologics Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Not Timetabled |
Pharmaceutical research topics: UQ Extend Online learning content for self-directed learning is provided in UQ Extend. Week 1 - Pharmaceutical research and personalised medicine Week 2 - Delivery of Biologics Learning outcomes: L01 |
|
Multiple weeks From Week 4 To Week 9 |
Practical |
Practical Conduct your research in the laboratory during three x 6 hour practicals with your team. See Blackboard for your team's schedule. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Workshop |
Final Q&A Week 13 - Closing workshop Learning outcomes: L01, L05 |
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.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course: