MSc Drug Discovery and Translational Biology - Edinburgh

Entry Requirements Students are expected to have a good degree in the biological sciences (ideally at least a UK 2:1 honours degree or its equivalent if outside the UK). Students are required to have a good background in molecular biology, biochemistry or related sciences. Students with degrees in Informatics, Computing, Chemistry, Physics and Engineering will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

MSc Drug Discovery and Translational Biology

Programme

Drug Discovery and Translational Biology will explore the methods used in the 21st century to develop therapeutic compounds for human and animal health as well as agents for disease control in plants. Students will develop an understanding of the basic requirements of a good drug, how a suitable target is selected, the techniques that are available for discovering new lead compounds and how these are developed into a marketable product.

Learning Outcomes

Students who follow this programme will:

    * design, carry out and report on experimental investigations;
    * gain hands-on experience with state-of- the-art preparative and analytical methods;
    * gain hands-on experience with structural biology/bioinformatics computing;
    * collect, record and analyse data;
    * review existing knowledge based upon published reports of previous studies;
    * produce scientific reports including appropriate referencing.

How You Will Be Taught

Lectures, seminars and group discussions, supplemented by practical exercises, will use examples of relevance to participants from all countries, dealing both with the fundamental scientific problems and techniques of drug discovery and design with the intention to develop principles for new therapeutic strategies (translational biology), as well as the social implications that arise. Thus, as part of the transferable skills programme the course will consider the moral and ethical aspects of the agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries through case studies, seminars and discussions