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Design, development and delivery of an independent learning module in pharmaceutical chemistry

Steve Stanforth,* Justin Perry and Bill Tomlinson

School of Applied Sciences, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST

e-mail: steven.stanforth@unn.ac.uk; tel. 0191 227 4784; fax 0191 227 3519.

Summary

Over recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to recruit physical science students to many University undergraduate programmes. Consequently, many traditional physical science programmes are being ‘re-branded’. Within the chemistry discipline, pharmaceutical chemistry/science, medicinal chemistry and forensic chemistry programmes are examples of programmes that are currently emerging to attract additional undergraduate students.

     In view of the emergence of the physical science programmes noted above, the aim of this project is to develop an independent learning module in the area of pharmaceutical chemistry. The objectives of this final year module will be to:

• extend the students’ understanding and application of chemical principles within the context of pharmaceutical chemistry
• emphasise the interdisciplinary nature of pharmaceutical chemistry
• create a learning environment which would encourage students to be responsible for their own learning
• develop IT skills within the context of pharmaceutical chemistry
• develop numeracy within the context of pharmaceutical chemistry
• widen participation
• develop employability skills

It is anticipated that the proposed module will be based on a collection of case studies within several topic areas and some potential examples are given below. An indication of the type of skills that could be developed within each topic area is also given.

·         Quantitative structure activity relationships. This topic would develop database manipulation and interpretation skills and would include IT.

·         Drug adsorption and distribution. This topic would develop the underlying physical chemistry principles that determine the adsorption and distribution of drugs and will develop numeracy.

·         Lead discovery and optimisation. This topic will investigate how leads are discovered and the processes available for lead optimisation.

·         Molecular modelling. This topic would develop an appreciation of the nature of molecular interactions and forces and their mathematical representations. Areas such as enzyme-substrate interactions could be examined.

·         Synthesis. This topic could look at the laboratory synthesis of drugs and compare these to the industrial synthesis. Thus, problems due to ‘scale-up’ can be examined. Contemporary areas of synthesis can be examined such as combinatorial chemistry and this would provide a link with the lead discovery and optimisation topic.

·         The pharmaceutical industry. This topic would provide an oversight into the organisation and running of the pharmaceutical industry, particularly economic aspects.

These illustrative examples of topics indicate how the objectives noted above may be met and the range of skills developed within each topic area will enhance employability. The module will assume an intermediate level of general chemistry but a glossary and reference list will be provided for any prior learning.