Scientific project design in drug discovery
BIO-494 / 4 crédits
Enseignant: Auwerx Johan
Langue: Anglais
Withdrawal: It is not allowed to withdraw from this subject after the registration deadline.
Remark: only one registration per student to a scientific thinking course
Summary
The goal of this course is to instruct the student how fundamental scientific knowledge can be applied for drug discovery and development. We will demonstrate these principles with examples, including virtual screening, in vitro screening, lead optimization and clinical trials.
Content
General principles of drug development [target-based versus whole cell-based screens, target identification, target validation, screening, hit to lead optimization, rational drug design, process research, efficacy, toxicity / safety, preclinical & clinical development.
* Use of animal models and human genetics in drug discovery
* The business environment [markets, patients/consumers, competitors]
* Project management [sponsors, stake-holders and their expectations, checkpoints, milestones, execution]
* Commercialization [business plan, regulatory, product launch, Intellectual property]
* Pathophysiology and therapeutic strategies for disorders of mitochondrial and neuro-muscular function
[fasting-feeding cycles, nutrition, hormonal control of energy homeostasis, obesity, diagnosis, frailty, sarcopenia, Alzheimer disease, pathogenesis, prevention and treatments]
* Pathophysiology and therapeutic strategies for selected target diseases
* Case studies
Keywords
Drug discovery
Drug development
Drug targets
Screening
ADME/T
Drug-drug interactions Pharmacology
Learning Prerequisites
Recommended courses
Physiology
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Pharmacology
Important concepts to start the course
History of drug therapy and the design of randomised clinical trials. Nature of drug targets and the mechanisms of action of some commonly used drugs. Hit-identification, hit-to-lead and lead optimisation towards a candidate drug.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Propose new combination therapies to treat comorbidities
Transversal skills
- Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
Teaching methods
The teaching proceeds with weekly sessions of office hours and group work in close collaboration with the teacher. Scientific publications will be analyzed by individual students and presented to the group. A druggable target relevant for a specific disease will then be selected by the group of students. Students will work in small groups to develop a complete strategy to design, select and optimize a candidate drug.
Expected student activities
Database searches
Literature reviews
Analysis of scientific articles
Team discussion with the teaching assistants during the class hours
Presentation of salient points
Discussion of findings in a more general context
Assessment methods
* Continual assessment during the semester.
* Written Project.
* Oral defense of the project and questions on course work.
Resources
Bibliography
* Corey E.J., Czako B., Kurti L. Molecules and Medicines (2007)
* Kenakin T.P. A pharmacology primer, theory, applications and methods (Third Edition, 2009)
* Kasper D.L, Braunwald, E., Fauci A.S., Hauser S.L., Longo D.L. Jameson, J.L. Harrison,s Principles of Internal Medicine (17th Edition, 2008)
* Brunton L.L., et al. Goodman & Gilman,s: The pharmacological basis of therapeutics (12th Edition, 2011)
* Shimasaki C, Biotechnology Entrepreneurship - leading, managing, and commercializing Innovative technologies (2nd Edition, 2020)
Ressources en bibliothèque
- Shimasaki. Biotechnology Entrepreneurship - leading, managing, and commercializing Innovative
- Brunton. Goodman & Gilman,s The pharmacological basis of therapeutics
- Corey. Molecules and Medicines
- Kasper Principles of Internal Medicine
- Kenakin. A pharmacology primer, theory, applications and methods
Moodle Link
Dans les plans d'études
- Semestre: Automne
- Nombre de places: 10
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Scientific project design in drug discovery
- Cours: 1 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 3 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel
- Semestre: Automne
- Nombre de places: 10
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Scientific project design in drug discovery
- Cours: 1 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 3 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel