Key facts

UNE unit code: CHEM303

*You are viewing the 2024 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Trimester 1 - On Campus
  • Trimester 1 - Online
Campus
  • Armidale Campus
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • Yes
Supervised exam
  • Yes
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

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As global populations age and complex, chronic diseases become increasingly prevalent, development of new therapeutic agents is vital. Drug development is a rapidly evolving field, integrating advanced knowledge of medicinal chemistry and human biology.

This unit introduces you to the drugs used in medicine, exploring their modes of action and cutting-edge methods used for their discovery and development.

Building a chemical understanding of the role of metals in enzymes, drugs and diagnostic agents, you will explore the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous organic drugs, the role of metabolism in toxicity and the effect of metabolism on pharmacokinetics.

You will also examine quantitative methods for determining activity (QSAR) and pharmacokinetic properties (QSPR).

Practical sessions equip you with methods for the synthesis of common functional groups, as well as C-C and C-N bond forming reactions and methods for the isolation of biological compounds.

Offerings

For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.

Teaching period
Mode/location
Trimester 1On Campus, Armidale Campus
Trimester 1Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

StartFinishDurationAttendanceOfferingsNotes
19 April 202423 April 20244 daysMandatory Intensive SchoolTrimester 1, Online The intensive school is mandatory for online students only. Students must attend the Mandatory Intensive School which is held in Armidale. No teaching activities will occur on Sunday.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
CHEM204 or candidature in a postgraduate award
Restrictions
CHEM303A or CHEM403 or CHEM503 or PHAR370
Combined units

Notes

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

Ben Greatrex

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. understand the properties and mechanisms of action of selected biologically important molecules and understand how new drugs are discovered;
  2. critically apply the principles of organic chemistry to understand the structure and function of drugs in biological processes;
  3. critically apply their understanding of medicinal chemistry to design new compounds with appropriate structural features for clinical use;
  4. solve practical problems relating to the synthesis of medicinally important functional groups; and
  5. communicate effectively to a scientific audience information relating to the synthesis, extraction and characterisation of organic molecules.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Assessment 1Yes10%All offerings

Assignment which will require short answers and/or calculations.

Assessment 2Yes10%All offerings

Assignment which will require short answers and/or calculations.

Assessment 3Yes10%All offerings

Assignment which will require short answers and/or calculations.

Assessment 4Yes30%All offerings

Six (6) practical assessment tasks. Students must submit all practical reports and gain an overall pass in the practical component in order to pass this unit.

Final ExaminationYes40%All offerings

It is mandatory to pass the final examination in order to pass this unit.

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library — purchase is optional.

An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry

ISBN: 9780198749691

Patrick, G., Oxford University Press 6th ed. 2017

Note: The 5th edition is also acceptable.

Text refers to: All offerings

Note: Referenced material is held in the University Library — purchase is optional.

Metals in Medicine

ISBN: 9781119191308

Dabrowiak, J.C., Wiley 2nd ed. 2017

Note: An eBook version is available through the Dixson Library.

Text refers to: All offerings

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