PHAR40230 Project in Biotherapeutics Dev

Academic Year 2023/2024

Over the last three decades biotherapeutics have become an integral and valued part of modern medicine. These decades have seen an explosion in the development of blockbuster drugs developed to treat a widening range of complex diseases and have witnessed the rapid maturation of the science of development of engineered proteins. Biotherapeutics have significant advantages over small molecule therapies since they have been shown to be even more effective due to their ability to target specific molecules within the human body. However, unlike most conventional small molecules like aspirin and antibiotics, the development, manufacturing and storage of biotherapeutics is more complex and require sophisticated production and control processes. In contrast with small molecule therapeutics, biotherapeutics depend upon the host cells of living organisms to effectively produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient.
Aims:
The principle focus of this module will be to teach students how biotherapeutic candidates are discovered for a particular disease target and how these candisdates are studied to identify a lead candidiate for development as a drug. Using a full suite of screening and discovery technologies with powerful characterisation methods students will over two trimesters become speacialised in these processes.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

In this module students will train as part of a small research team:
1. train in the expression and purification of a protein target
2. Use combinatorial selection methods to identify a panel of candidate biotherapeutics that target this protein
3. Screen and rank the best candidates for efficacy using in vitro technologies
4. Develop a lead candidate using protein engineering technologies
5. Document progress reports and scientific output in industrial context
6. Submit time management reports on behalf of their team

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Tutorial

12
Practical

200
Field Trip/External Visits

2
Autonomous Student Learning

200
Total

426
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning; peer and group work with continuous feedback from technical and demonstrating staff. Regularly scheduled group meetrings and feedback sessions with academic staff 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Thesis Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

55
Lab Report: stage I report Unspecified n/a Graded No

15
Lab Report: stage III report Unspecified n/a Graded No

15
Lab Report: stage II report Unspecified n/a Graded No

15

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be on a continuous basis in the laboratory. Peer to peer review will be a continuous component of group based teamwork. Post-report feedback will be provided by graders

Name Role
Professor Keith Murphy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Paula Ventura da Silva Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Mary Doran Tutor
Dr Alan Hoban Tutor
Dr Greg Tsolkas Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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