Literature Case Studies in Drug Discovery from edX

In this course about drug discovery case studies, students will read five different Drug Annotations articles. Each article will require approximately two hours to read thoroughly and fully process. Including assessment questions based on the articles, the full course should require no more than 15 hours of effort.

Students in the course should understand lead selection, lead optimization, pharmacodynamics, drug activity, pharmacokinetics, and preclinical safety. A fundamental understanding of the structure of organic molecules and their functional groups is also required. The course has no structure beyond having a module for each case study article. A handful of 10-15-minute videos with discussions of other Drug Annotation articles are provided for reference. Each module provides a link to the open access article on the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry website.

Students signed up for the Audit Track have access to the links to the case studies and the sample Drug Annotation article videos. Students enrolled through the Verified Track also have access to assessment questions.

What you'll learn

Students will learn about several drug programs in the pharmaceutical industry…

AZD4831 – a compound that reduces incidence of heart failure
MRTX0902 – a compound with anti-tumor activity
pritelivir – a compound that treats herpes simplex virus infections
reldesemitiv -a compound that treats impaired muscle function
sebetralstat – a compound that treats hereditary angioedema

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Helps students become more familiar with how the drug discovery and development process works

Offers meticulously designed case studies that closely follow real-world examples

Provides learners with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of drug discovery

Useful for students pursuing careers in the pharmaceutical industry or related fields

Requires a basic understanding of organic chemistry and pharmacology

May not be suitable for complete beginners in the field of drug discovery

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 Literature Case Studies in Drug Discovery with these activities:

Review fundamentals of organic chemistry

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Refresh your understanding of the fundamentals of organic chemistry to strengthen your foundation for the course concepts.

Browse courses on Chemical Bonding

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Review lecture notes or textbook chapters on chemical bonding, functional groups, and molecular structures.
Practice drawing and naming organic molecules using standard conventions.
Solve practice problems or exercises related to organic chemistry concepts.

Gather notes

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Organize your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams to enhance your understanding of the course materials.

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Collect all your course materials.
Organize your materials by topic or module.
Review your materials regularly to reinforce your learning.

Watch online tutorials

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Watch online tutorials to supplement your learning and gain a deeper understanding of the drug discovery process.

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Identify topics that you would like to learn more about.
Search for online tutorials on those topics.
Watch the tutorials and take notes.

Five other activities

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Watch online videos or tutorials on drug discovery

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Supplement your course materials by exploring additional resources on drug discovery to gain a broader perspective.

Browse courses on Drug Discovery

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Search for reputable online platforms or educational institutions offering tutorials on drug discovery.
Select videos or tutorials that cover topics relevant to the course, such as lead selection or pharmacokinetics.
Take notes or summarize the key concepts presented in the tutorials.

Participate in online discussion forums related to drug discovery

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Engage with fellow students and experts in the field by participating in online discussions to enhance your understanding.

Browse courses on Drug Discovery

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Join online discussion forums or groups focused on drug discovery.
Read and respond to posts, asking questions and sharing your insights.
Collaborate with others to explore different perspectives and expand your knowledge.

Solve practice problems

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Solve practice problems to improve your understanding of the drug discovery process and reinforce your knowledge of key concepts.

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Identify areas where you need additional practice.
Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Practice solving the problems until you feel confident in your understanding.

Attend webinars or workshops

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Attend webinars or workshops to learn from experts in the field of drug discovery and stay up-to-date on the latest research.

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Find webinars or workshops that are relevant to your interests.
Register for the event and attend.
Take notes and ask questions during the event.

Create a summary of a research paper on drug discovery

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Apply your understanding of drug discovery by summarizing and analyzing a research paper in the field.

Browse courses on Drug Discovery

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Identify a research paper related to the topics covered in the course.
Read and understand the paper thoroughly, paying attention to the research question, methods, results, and conclusions.
Create a concise summary that highlights the main findings and implications of the paper.

Career center

Learners who complete Literature Case Studies in Drug Discovery will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Science Librarian

A Science Librarian is an expert in drug discovery and pharmaceutical research. This course may contribute to your success as a Science Librarian by providing you with a deep knowledge of the drug discovery process.

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Clinical Research Associate

As a Clinical Research Associate, you would be in charge of evaluating the safety of new medical treatments, such as drugs. The topics covered in this course, including drug activity and preclinical safety, would be very useful for you to have a solid foundation in this field.

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Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives help educate healthcare practitioners about new drugs and treatments. This course may be useful in this role, as you would learn a great deal about the properties of drugs and how they work.

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Research Scientist

Research Scientists are responsible for conducting experiments and collecting data to further the knowledge of drug discovery. The topics covered in this course would provide you with a good understanding of the fundamentals of drug discovery, which would be very helpful in this role.

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Toxicologist

Toxicologists determine the potential health hazards of substances, such as drugs and chemicals. This course may be useful in this role, as you would learn about drug activity and preclinical safety, among other topics.

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Medical Writer

Medical Writers are responsible for writing and editing scientific and medical content, such as drug information sheets and clinical trial reports. This course may be useful in this role, as it covers several topics that a Medical Writer should be familiar with, such as drug activity and pharmacokinetics.

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Biostatistician

Biostatisticians apply statistical methods to data in the field of biology, including drug discovery. The topics covered in this course, especially pharmacokinetics, will be helpful to have a better understanding of this field.

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Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers typically design and create equipment and devices used in the medical field, including some used in drug discovery. This course will be useful by providing you with a basic knowledge of the drug discovery process and the properties of drugs.

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Chemist

Chemists are responsible for developing and studying new chemicals and compounds, including those used in drugs. Understandably, pharmacists will benefit from learning about the drug discovery process.

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Physician

Physicians prescribe and administer drugs to patients, which is why a course that covers drug discovery case studies may increase your knowledge of drugs and how they work. It may also be of interest as a refresher for physicians who work in research.

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Pharmacist

Pharmacists dispense and advise on the use of drugs, which is why learning about the drug discovery process can be a very beneficial supplement to your existing knowledge as a Pharmacist.

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Patent Attorney

Patent Attorneys help clients obtain and protect their patents, including patents for new drugs and treatments. This course may be useful for a Patent Attorney who specializes in the pharmaceutical industry, as it can provide a deeper understanding of the drug discovery process.

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Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare Consultants provide advice and guidance to healthcare organizations, such as hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. This course may be useful in this role, as it can provide you with a deeper understanding of the drug discovery process.

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Epidemiologist

An Epidemiologist is a scientist who studies the distribution and patterns of health events and diseases in a population. While an understanding of drugs and the drug discovery process is not necessarily a requirement, it could be helpful depending on your area of focus.

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Medical Laboratory Scientist

Medical Laboratory Scientists typically perform tests and analyze samples to help diagnose and treat diseases. This course will be useful by providing you with a deep understanding of the drug discovery process and the properties of drugs.

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Literature Case Studies in Drug Discovery

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