Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a comprehensive program in Medicinal and Biostructural Chemistry, which is a compulsory course for students enrolled in the MSc Programme in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSc Programme in Medicinal Chemistry, and MSc Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Program Description

The course deals with the principles of drug design and discovery, including fundamental aspects of bioinformatics and structural biology. It covers genome structure, sequence alignment, and the use of internet-based tools for sequence analyses. The program also provides basic knowledge about protein structure, including 3-D structural information and experimental methods for structure determination.

Learning Outcomes

The course objective is to give students insight into the molecular mechanisms of action of selected drugs and to acquaint them with the fundamental principles of drug design and discovery. Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

• Define the concepts used to describe molecular interactions in the context of drug design and discovery
• Explain the principles of drug actions on a number of biological targets
• Define the basic concepts from bioinformatics used in drug design and discovery
• Understand, reflect, explain, and critically evaluate molecular interactions in the context of drug design and discovery
• Master, discuss, and evaluate the use of 3D-structures in ligand design
• Master, discuss, and evaluate the use of the information available from sequenced genomes to solve problems related to drug design and discovery

Program Structure

The course consists of:

• 31 lectures (45 minutes each)
• 10 class lessons as journal clubs (45 minutes each)
• 4 four-hour computer exercises

Workload

The estimated workload for the course is:

• Lectures: 31 hours
• Class instruction: 10 hours
• Preparation: 101 hours
• Theory exercises: 16 hours
• Guidance: 48 hours
• Total: 206 hours

Assessment

The course has two exams:

• Exam 1: Continuous assessment (2.5 ECTS)
• Exam 2: Written examination (5 ECTS)

Exam Criteria

To achieve a course certificate, students must demonstrate:

• Knowledge of molecular interactions in the context of drug design and discovery
• Understanding of the principles of drug actions on biological targets
• Ability to master, discuss, and evaluate the use of 3D-structures in ligand design
• Ability to master, discuss, and evaluate the use of information from sequenced genomes in drug design and discovery

Literature

The recommended textbooks for the course are:

• Textbook of Drug Design and Discovery, Povl Krogsgaard-Larsen, Kristian Strømgaard, Ulf Madsen (Eds.), 5th Edition, 2016, CRC Press
• Practical Bioinformatics, Michael Agostino, Garland Science, Taylor and Francis Group, LLC, 2013
• Biochemistry, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczo, and Lubert Stryer, 7th edition, 2011
• Four scientific papers available on the course website

Formal Requirements

There are no formal requirements for the course, but students are expected to have previous knowledge of organic chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry, and general pharmacology.

Recommended Academic Qualifications

The course is based on the assumption that students have previous knowledge from basic courses in organic chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry, and general pharmacology, preferably corresponding to the content of the compulsory courses on these topics in the BSc in Pharmacy program.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course uses a combination of lectures, class lessons, and computer exercises to teach students the principles of drug design and discovery.

Course Information

• Language: English
• Course code: SFAK20010U
• Credit: See exam description
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 2
• Schedule: B
• Course capacity: 265 students
• Study board: Study Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Contracting department: Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology
• Contracting faculty: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
• Course Coordinators: Michael Gajhede and Kristian Strømgaard

Additional Information

The course is also available as continuing and professional education. Students are expected to bring a laptop computer for the computer exercises. There is access to various software programs, including R, MathType, and Maple, during the exam. Students are allowed to bring a molecular model building set to the exam.