MSc in Cheminformatics and Toxicology

Program Overview

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The Cheminformatics and Toxicology MSc program at the University of Galway equips students with the computational and toxicology skills to address chemical safety challenges. Blending theory, practice, and research, this program prepares graduates for careers in drug development, regulatory science, and academia, where the intersection of toxicology and data-driven analysis is increasingly valuable.

Program Outline

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Cheminformatics and Toxicology (MSc) - University of Galway

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Degree Overview:

Cheminformatics and Toxicology (MSc) is a one-year, full-time program offered by the University of Galway's College of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences, School of Medicine.

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Objectives:

The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to:

• Understand and apply computational techniques to solve chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology problems.
• Address toxicological questions using a range of computational tools.
• Prepare for a career in in silico toxicity prediction in the pharmaceutical industry, consultancy, academia, and government.

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Description:

The program integrates training in toxicology and computational approaches (analytics) to develop a highly marketable skill-set for a career in the Pharma industry or organizations that regulate chemical safety. It features guest lecturers from regulators and industry who teach from "real-life" cases and provide career development advice. The program culminates in an independent research project focused on solving real-world toxicity/toxicity assessment problems.

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Outline:

The program is delivered over three semesters:

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Semester 1:

• Fundamentals of Pharmacology: Students learn the basics of pharmacology.
• Introduction to Toxicology: Students are introduced to the principles of toxicology.
• Statistical Computing with R: Students learn the basics of statistical computing using the R programming language.
• Applied Toxicology: Students delve deeper into the practical applications of toxicology.
• Programming for Biology: Students learn programming techniques relevant to biological research.
• Computational Approaches to Drug Design and Biomolecular Structure: Students explore computational methods used in drug design and biomolecular structure analysis.

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Semester 2:

• Advanced Concepts in Toxicology: Students explore more advanced topics in toxicology.
• Controversial Areas of Toxicology: Students investigate controversial aspects of toxicology.
• High Throughput and High Content Screening Technologies: Students gain theoretical and practical understanding of high-throughput and high-content screening technologies used to generate large datasets for analysis.
• Research Project Development: Students develop and test a novel hypothesis through independent research.

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Semester 3:

• Independent Research Project: Students work independently under the guidance of an academic or industry-based thesis supervisor on a cheminformatics research project.

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Assessment:

Assessment methods include:

• Written examinations
• Computer-based examinations
• Coursework (including verbal presentations and poster presentations)
• Research thesis

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Teaching:

The program involves:

• Lectures
• Laboratory-based training
• Self-directed learning

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Faculty:

• Professor Cathal Seoighe
• Dr Pilib Ó Broin
• Dr Aaron Golden
• Dr. Howard Oliver Fearnhead
• Dr Declan Mc Kernan
• Prof John Kelly

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Careers:

Graduates from the course are employed in:

• Pharmaceutical industry
• Cosmetics industry
• National and EU regulatory bodies
• Toxicology consultancies
• Academia

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Other:

• The program is designed to address the growing need for scientists with computational skills in toxicology.
• The global ADME toxicology testing market is projected to surpass $16.2 billion by 2024.
• The course provides students with a unique skillset that is highly sought after by employers.

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Fees: EU €8,890 p.a. (including levy) 2024/25 Fees: Tuition €8,750 p.a. 2024/25 Fees: Student levy €140 p.a. 2024/25 Fees: Non EU €23,000 p.a. (€23,140 including levy) 2024/25