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LSC-20087 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LSC-20087 - Drug design
Coordinator: Anja Winter Tel: +44 1782 7 33117
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

none

Barred Combinations

none

Description for 2025/26

The module will introduce the drug development pipeline from in-silico studies to clinical trials. You will apply knowledge of biological and chemical structures to explore principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in modern drug discovery. Specific examples of biological targets and drug molecules will be discussed, where you will develop higher-level skills in accessing and manipulating structural information for ligand-target interactions. You will also further develop teamwork and communication skills, including to non-specialist audiences.

Aims
To expand core level 4 biological chemistry material and its application to drug design and development. Students will be introduced to the drug development pipeline through to clinical trials and emerging technologies in drug design, as well as principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, and the physicochemical properties of drugs/ligands and their molecular interactions with biological targets.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/lsc-20087/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

explain the principles of the drug discovery pipeline from candidate selection through to clinical trials: 3
explain basic concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and their importance to drug delivery, potency and selectivity: 1,2,3
describe the molecular interactions between drugs/ligands and their targets in biological systems: 1,3
evaluate the structures of molecules related to their suitability as therapeutic agents and discuss approaches to ligand-based drug design through structure-activity relationships: 1,3
discuss approaches to rational drug design based on knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of biological targets: 1,3
manipulate and present structural information for protein-ligand interactions using the protein data bank: 1
communicate effectively in written and visual form through the production of a written report and group communication exercise: 1,2

Study hours

24 hours in-situ lectures/tutorials supporting lecture content
12 hours IT workshops
6 hours CBL sessions
2x2 hours preparation for CBL sessions
12x 4 hours engagement with asynchronous activities including preparations for workshops,
27 hours directed reading/engagement with additional resources and private study for exam preparation
27 hours private study: preparation of in-course assessments
2 hours exam

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 30%
1,000 word report
Students will produce a 1,000 word report assessing the presentation and interpretation of structural data for protein-ligand interactions using the protein data bank/other software for visualisation/manipulation.

2: Group Assessment weighted 20%
Group communication exercise
Working in groups (2-3) students will produce a patient information leaflet on an allocated pharmaceutical detailing key information on the function and biological activity of the molecule in context to disease treatment.

3: Exam weighted 50%
Closed book exam (MCQs and SAQs)
The unseen exam will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions assessing lecture-based material. While the exam is designed to take approximately 1 hour, all students will be allocated 2 hours to ensure an inclusive and accessible assessment experience. Students will be permitted to take a double-sided A4 memory prompt of notes with them to the exam.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025