Course Description

"Measuring Biological Activity: From Molecules to Clinical Trials" is an engaging and comprehensive three-week course offered by DavidsonX that delves into the fascinating world of drug discovery and development. This intermediate-level course takes students on a journey through the various stages of measuring biological activity, from understanding drug targets at the molecular level to interpreting clinical trial results.

What Students Will Learn

• The concept of target-based drug discovery
• Types of biological molecules serving as drug targets
• Different outcomes of drug-target interactions
• Biochemical and cellular methods for measuring drug-target binding
• Outcomes used to determine clinical trial success
• Generation and interpretation of dose-response curves

Pre-requisites

• Understanding of proteins and biological pathways
• Comfort with algebraic expressions, including logarithmic functions

Course Content

• Introduction to drug targets and biological molecules
• Pathways, targets, and responses in drug discovery
• Mechanism of action, mode of action, and indication
• Types of targets and ligands
• Enzyme and receptor activity curves
• Potency vs. efficacy
• Various types of assays (binding, in silico, functional in vitro)
• In vivo preclinical studies
• Biomarkers and surrogate endpoints
• Dose-response curves and their interpretation
• Using assays to discover new drugs

Who This Course Is For

• Students pursuing careers in pharmacology, biotechnology, or medicine
• Professionals in the pharmaceutical industry seeking to expand their knowledge
• Researchers interested in drug discovery and development processes
• Anyone curious about how drugs are developed and tested

Real-World Applications

• Contribute to drug discovery and development projects in pharmaceutical companies
• Design and interpret experiments in research laboratories
• Evaluate clinical trial data and outcomes
• Understand the complexities of bringing new drugs to market
• Collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams in drug development

Course Syllabus

Course Structure

This course offers a flexible learning approach, allowing students to complete it in approximately three weeks at a pace of one hour per day, or in a more intensive format over a single week or extended weekend. With 15 modules, each consisting of instructional videos, readings, exercises, and assessments, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of measuring biological activity in drug discovery and development.