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Unit of study_
MCHM3001: From Molecules to Therapeutics
2025 unit information
Major changes to the way we discover and develop new medicines have taken place in recent years. Sequencing of the human genome has revolutionised drug target identification and therapeutic design. Approaches that combine molecular biology and intensive data analysis are key to the development of effective personalised and precision therapies. New methods in organic synthesis have accelerated how we explore chemical space and parallel developments in nanotechnology are driving innovative drug delivery methods. Improvements in cell, tissue and animal models of human disease are changing how drugs are identified and tested. In this unit, you will explore how these new ideas and technologies are transforming medicinal chemistry. You will learn and apply such techniques to the molecular-level understanding of diseases and the design of effective therapeutics. You will learn the procedures leading to drug registration and regulation. You will participate in enquiry-led practicals that reinforce the concepts of the unit and develop your skills in cutting-edge methods used in modern medicinal chemistry. By studying this unit you will build knowledge and skills that will enable you to play a role in creating therapeutics that will impact lives.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Medicine and Health
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Department of Medical Sciences |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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[(PCOL2011 or PCOL2021 or MEDS2002) or (BMED2401 and BMED2402) or (BMED2401 and BMED2405)] or (12 credit points from BCMB2XXX) and [(CHEM2401 or CHEM2521 or CHEM2911 or CHEM2915 or CHEM2921 or CHEM2991)] |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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MCHM3901 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. demonstrate an understanding of major developments in modern drug discovery, ranging from analysis of bioinformatics through combinatorial synthetic methods and fragment-based screening, to formulation, preclinical development, delivery and registration
- LO2. apply bioinformatics and in silico methods to drug target identification and drug optimisation
- LO3. propose and justify reasonable synthetic approaches towards small organic molecule drug candidates
- LO4. understand and apply the principles of scientific measurement during a fragment-based screening project
- LO5. find and analyse information and judge its reliability and significance when evaluating the efficacy of drug action
- LO6. communicate scientific information appropriately, both orally and through written work
- LO7. engage in team and group work to assess the development, approval and registration of new drugs
- LO8. demonstrate a sense of responsibility, ethical behaviour, and independence as a learner and as a scientist.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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