Drug Discovery, Survey

Course Description

Drug discovery is a complex and rapidly evolving process that brings together many different fields of knowledge. While the fundamental principles of drug discovery are well known, the tools, technologies and methods used are always changing and improving. Effective drug discovery requires that professionals have an understanding of the entire process and are using the best practices.

This course introduces students to the key steps in drug discovery from choosing a target to improving drug candidates in the lab. Students will learn how various scientific methods intersect to find and develop new treatments. The course also explores current trends and special topics, including cancer drug discovery, precision medicine, and the use of artificial intelligence in research.

Learning Outcomes 
At the conclusion of the course, participants should be able to

• Explain the different aspects of the drug discovery process as they are practiced in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Discuss methods of target validation and lead optimization strategies.
• Describe the most recent tools and techniques used for discovering new drugs.

Topics Include

• Target identification and validation
• Interfaces, Nested classes
• Target selection (genomic and biopharmaceutical)
• Lead optimization strategies
• Preclinical development
• Pharmacokinetics/toxicology
• Emerging trends: leveraging AI tools in drug discovery

Additional Information

AI* - This course encourages students to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming drug discovery, including target identification, biomarker development, and clinical trial optimization, while critically evaluating the opportunities and limitations of AI-driven approaches in precision medicine.