Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

BSc in Chemistry or a related subject

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To introduce the basic concepts of the aetiology of cancer and pathogenic disease; to impart an understanding of the host-pathogen relationship, and the concepts of selective toxicity and resistance; to equip students with an understanding of the basic principles of chemotherapy of cancer and infectious disease; to provide an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the action of anticancer and anti-infective drugs.

Outline Of Syllabus

Cancer Chemotherapy
Dr C Cano

1 Introduction to cancer
2 DNA reactive drugs
3 Antimetabolites
4 DNA Topoisomerase inhibitors
5 Mitotic poisons
6 DNA Repair Enzymes
7 Antiendocrine drugs
8 Current approaches to cancer chemotherapy
9 New thearapies: Targetting receptor tyrosine kinase signalling
10 Kinase inhibitors case studies

Chemotherapy of Infectious Diseases
Professor Bernard Golding

1 Introduction and historical overview
2 Principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy
3 Antibacterial agents – Penicillin and related β-lactam
4 Antibacterial agents – Glycopeptides, quinolones, and oxazolidinones
5 Antifungal agents – Polyenes and azoles
6 Antifungal agents – Azoles and other antifungals
7 Metronidazole
8 Malaria and its treatment
9 Antiviral chemotherapy
10 Acyclovir and maraviroc

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

• understand the basic principles of chemotherapy
• know about the various classes of antitumour and anti-infective agents
• understand the mechanism of action of chemotherapeutic agents at the molecular level
• know about the chemical structures of the more common pharmacophores of anticancer and anti-infective drugs
• understand selective toxicity and resistance mechanisms
• understand the mechanism of action of defined drugs
• understand therapy based on the molecular pathology of disease

Intended Skill Outcomes

Cognitive or intellectual skills, able to
• formulate strategies for finding information
• interpret primary research literature and plan future work on the basis of this interpretation

Key skills, able to
• retrieve information from the primary literature and internet pertaining to specific drug-related topics.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students acquire an understanding of the subject through online lectures. An understanding of the topics is reinforced by problem solving, and critical background reading of the scientific literature. The literature assignment will develop skills in reading, understanding and assimilating new information, and subsuming the acquired knowledge into a concise written review.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The presentation will test the student's acquisition and understanding of the lecture/seminar material; presentations will assess students’ conceptual understanding and ability to collate and synthese knowledge in the key subject areas

General Notes

Original Handbook text: