Measuring Pharmacodynamics: From Ligand Binding to Clinical Outcomes from edX

In this course about measuring biological activity, students will learn different methods of activity measurement encountered at different stages of a drug program. The three-week course starts with an introduction to drug targets, which are biological molecules affected by drugs. The second week emphasizes biochemical, cellular, and computational methods for determining the extent to which a drug can affect the action of its target and associated signal pathways. In the final week, students will transition to in vivo studies and the interpretation of dose-response curves.

Students in the course should understand the concepts of proteins and biological pathways. Students should also be comfortable with algebraic expressions, including logarithmic functions. The course is designed in modules. Each module opens with a short video on a selected topic. The module continues with a short reading or exercise with an assessment activity. Each module will require approximately 1 hour to complete, and the course includes 15 modules. Two approaches to the course are recommended. One, a student might spend an hour per day on the course and complete all 15 modules in approximately three weeks. Two, a student with additional available time may be able to work through the entire course in just a single week or over an extended weekend.

Students signed up for the Audit Track have access to the instructional video materials. Students enrolled through the Verified Track have access to the instructional videos, the readings and activities, the assessments, as well as selected additional videos related to the primary instructional videos.

What's inside

Learning objectives

The general idea of target-based drug discovery, in which a drug’s action on a target alters the function of a biological pathway
Common types of biological molecules that serve as drug targets, especially enzymes and receptors
Different outcomes of drug-target interactions, including inhibitors, agonists, inverse agonists, and antagonists

Representative biochemical and cellular methods for measuring drug-target binding
Types of outcomes used to determine the success of clinical trials
The generation and interpretation of dose-response curves

The general idea of target-based drug discovery, in which a drug’s action on a target alters the function of a biological pathway
Common types of biological molecules that serve as drug targets, especially enzymes and receptors
Different outcomes of drug-target interactions, including inhibitors, agonists, inverse agonists, and antagonists
Representative biochemical and cellular methods for measuring drug-target binding
Types of outcomes used to determine the success of clinical trials
The generation and interpretation of dose-response curves

Syllabus

week 1

pathways, targets, and responses

mechanism of action, mode of action, and indication

types of targets and ligands

enzyme and receptor activity curves

potency vs. efficacy

types of assays

binding assays

in silico assays and screens

functional in vitro assays

comparing potency values

in vivo preclinical studies

what are biomarkers?

outcomes and surrogate endpoints

dose-response curves

using assays to discover new drugs

week 2

week 3

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Touches on the targets and mechanisms of pharmacological agents

Covers the methods used to measure the activity of biological molecules, which is fundamental to drug discovery and development

Provides a comprehensive overview of drug targets, their mechanisms of action, and the methods used to study them

Suitable for individuals with a background in biology, chemistry, or pharmacology who are interested in drug discovery and development

May require additional resources for learners without a strong background in pharmacology

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Measuring Pharmacodynamics: From Ligand Binding to Clinical Outcomes with these activities:

Annotated Bibliography on Drug Targets

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Research and summarize existing literature on drug targets to gain a deeper understanding of the course topic and prepare for your own research.

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Search academic databases for relevant articles
Read and summarize key findings from each article
Organize and categorize your summaries by drug target type or disease area

Practice drug discovery models

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This activity will help develop comfort with core theoretical concepts of pharmacology by practicing drug discovery models.

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Work through the practice questions provided in the module readings.
Complete the practice quizzes at the end of each module.
Attempt answering questions related to drug discovery models.

Weekly Study Group

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Join a study group to discuss course concepts, solve problems together, and enhance your understanding of biochemical and cellular methods for measuring drug-target binding.

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Find a group of classmates or online peers
Establish a regular meeting time and location
Take turns leading discussions and presenting summaries

Six other activities

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Show all nine activities

In Vitro Assay Development Tutorial

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Enroll in an online tutorial to learn about and practice developing in vitro assays, which are essential for measuring drug-target binding and efficacy.

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Find a reputable online tutorial provider
Follow the tutorial instructions and complete all exercises
Apply your newfound skills to a research project or personal experiment

Study in vivo studies with videos

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These in vivo preclinical studies will help give a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of action and dose-response relationships discussed in the course.

Browse courses on Dose-Response Curves

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Follow along with the video tutorials on in vivo studies.
Take notes or summarize your understanding of the videos.
Discuss your findings with a classmate or the instructor.

Medicinal Chemistry: A Molecular and Biochemical Approach

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Gain a comprehensive understanding of medicinal chemistry principles and their application in drug discovery and development.

View Medicinal Chemistry: A Molecular and... on Amazon

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Read the assigned chapters and take notes
Complete the end-of-chapter exercises and problems
Discuss key concepts with a study group or mentor

Contribute to a Drug Discovery Open Source Project

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Enhance your understanding of drug discovery and contribute to the scientific community by participating in an open-source project.

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Find a suitable open-source project related to drug discovery
Review the project documentation and codebase
Identify an area where you can make a contribution
Submit a pull request with your proposed changes

Dose-Response Curve Analysis Practice

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Sharpen your data analysis skills by practicing the generation and interpretation of dose-response curves, which are critical for evaluating drug efficacy and safety.

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Find a dataset with dose-response data
Plot the dose-response curve and calculate key parameters
Interpret the results and draw conclusions about drug potency and efficacy

Case Study Presentations

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Enhance your communication and critical thinking skills by presenting and discussing case studies related to drug discovery and development.

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Select a case study and conduct research
Prepare a presentation summarizing the case study and your analysis
Present your case study to your peers and lead a discussion

Career center

Learners who complete Measuring Pharmacodynamics: From Ligand Binding to Clinical Outcomes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Medicinal Chemist

Medicinal chemists discover and develop new drugs. This course would be useful for developing an understanding of the chemical structure and properties of drugs. It will help medicinal chemists design and synthesize new drugs that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

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Clinical Pharmacologist

Clinical pharmacologists study the effects of drugs in humans. This course would be useful for building a foundation in the principles of clinical pharmacology. It will help clinical pharmacologists design and conduct clinical trials and interpret the results of studies.

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Clinical Research Associate

Clinical research associates manage clinical trials for drugs. This course would be useful for understanding the principles of clinical trial design and conduct. It will help clinical research associates ensure that clinical trials are conducted safely and ethically.

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Biostatistician

Biostatisticians analyze data from clinical trials and other studies. This course would be useful for developing the skills needed to analyze data from drug trials. It will help biostatisticians design and conduct clinical trials and interpret the results of studies.

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Drug Safety Physician

Drug safety physicians monitor the safety of drugs after they have been approved for use. This course would be useful for building a foundation in the principles of drug safety. It will help drug safety physicians identify and assess the risks associated with drug use.

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Biochemist

Biochemists study the chemical processes that occur within living organisms. This course would be useful for developing the skills needed to design and conduct experiments to study the biochemical effects of drugs. This course will help biochemists build a foundation in the biochemical and cellular methods used to study drug-target interactions.

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Nurse

Nurses provide care to patients in a variety of settings. This course would be useful for building a foundation in the principles of drug action. It will help nurses safely administer drugs to their patients and educate patients about the proper use of drugs.

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Toxicologist

Toxicologists assess the safety of chemicals and other substances. This course would be useful for developing an understanding of the potential risks associated with drug use. It will help toxicologists interpret the results of toxicology studies and make recommendations about the safe use of drugs.

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Physician

Physicians diagnose and treat diseases in humans. This course would be useful for building a foundation in the principles of drug action. It will help physicians make more informed decisions about the use of drugs in their patients.

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Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Regulatory affairs specialists ensure that drugs meet safety and efficacy standards. This course would be useful for understanding the regulatory requirements for drugs. It will help regulatory affairs specialists determine whether drugs are safe and effective for use in humans.

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Medical Science Liaison

Medical science liaisons provide scientific information about drugs to physicians and other healthcare providers. This course would be useful for developing an understanding of the pharmacology and clinical applications of drugs. It will help medical science liaisons provide accurate information about the drugs they represent and answer questions from healthcare providers.

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Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Pharmaceutical sales representatives sell drugs to physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. This course would be useful for developing an understanding of the pharmacology and clinical applications of drugs. It will help sales representatives provide accurate information about the drugs they sell and answer questions from healthcare providers.

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Patent Attorney

Patent attorneys help companies obtain patents for their inventions. This course would be useful for understanding the patent process and the legal issues surrounding drugs. It will help patent attorneys write and file patents for drugs and other medical products.

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Medical Writer

Medical writers create educational and promotional materials about drugs and other medical products. This course would be useful for gaining an understanding of the principles of pharmacology. It will help medical writers produce accurate and informative materials about drugs.

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Pharmacologist

Pharmacologists play a role in the discovery and development of medicines. This course may be useful for the molecular level understanding of how drugs and other molecules affect biological pathways. This course may be particularly helpful to those pharmacologists who are interested in discovering and developing drugs that target specific proteins and receptors.

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