Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Dmu

[Emerson Mata]

Manymodern medicines such as vaccines, hormones, and anticancer drugs are now made using biological cells. Insulin for example, which is used by diabetic patients worldwide, is made using living cells as opposed to more traditional chemical synthesis based methods. This means there is a strong demand for biologists who can design innovative new medicines using biological approaches, and who have the skills to work with cells and the bio-active compounds they produce. This biotechnology course will teach students how to grow and engineer biological cells in order to make safe and effective medicines using the most up-to-date information and technologies available.

The course content is specifically designed to meet the needs of the many relevant employers both nationally and internationally, and contains topical, cutting edge, industry specific material. The lectures are supplemented with in-depth analysis of relevant case studies, projects, assignments, interactive videos, web tools, and site visits. A substantial portion of the contact time in the first three years is spent in the laboratory gaining practical experience.

Work placement is a mandatory part of this course. In year 3, students will spend a minimum of 16 weeks in a local, national or internationally approved work environment. With a substantial database of national and international industry partners at our disposal, students have an opportunity to experience the reality of a work-based environment as part of their education, gaining access to some of the leading scientific companies in the world.

A module is a standalone unit of learning and assessment and is completed within one semester. A full-time student will normally study six modules in each semester; part-time and ACCS (Accumulation of Credits and Certification of Subjects) students will have flexibility as to the number of modules taken.

This course is very broad and is specifically designed to train students in all aspects of modern biotechnology. Graduates from this course are qualified to work in a number of areas within the biotechnology industry with many attaining employment immediately after graduating.

The program gives students a thorough understanding of the scientific theory and advanced laboratory research techniques vital to success in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Students also receive valuable internship experience in this revolutionary field.

Program Requirements

The outlined curriculum provides a strong conceptual foundation upon which students can build the practical skills to excel in this exciting field. Students must complete a minimum of 33 credits, 18 of which are satisfied by the completion of the required core courses, including an off-campus internship that students take preferably in their final semester or after they have completed a minimum of 21 credits with a 3.0 index.

Academic Standing

Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0. A student with a GPA of less than 3.0 is placed on academic probation and has one semester to correct the deficiency. If uncorrected after one semester, the student will be dismissed from the program. Students may appeal dismissal to the Director of the Institute for Biotechnology who acts as Dean for the program.

Transfer of Credit

A student may transfer up to six (6) graduate credits from another fully accredited institution of higher learning to substitute for courses in the curriculum. The student should present a syllabus of the course for which he or she is requesting credit and an official transcript for the College or University to the Director of the Institute for Biotechnology. The syllabus will be evaluated by the chair of the department offering the corresponding course in the curriculum. If it is deemed to be the equivalent the student will receive transfer credit for the course.

Core Courses

201 (CHE 101) Instrumental Methods of Analysis

A lecture laboratory course on the applications of modern physical and chemical techniques to chemical analysis. Emphasis is placed on the underlying principles underlying analog and digital data acquisition and evaluation Credit: 3 semester hours. Laboratory fee $60.

202 (TOX 201) Methods in Toxicologic Evaluation

Prerequisite: BIT 252 and permission of the instructor. Experimental toxicology and pathology deals with the variety of experimental methods utilized to determine the safety and toxicity of materials administered by mouth, applied topically to the skin or mucous membranes, or administered inhalation of gasses or aerosols. Credit: 3 semester hours.

203 (PHS 203) Research Methods in Pharmacology

This course intends to introduce the student to select in vivo and in vitro techniques used in quantitative evaluation of pharmacological agents. Credit: 3 semester hours. Laboratory fee $135.

209 (BIO 209) Introduction to Bioinformatics

A consideration of the application of information technology to biological questions, including DNA sequencing, proteomics and genomics. Credit: 3 semester hours.

212 (BIO 212) Cell Biology

Prerequisite: 207. Structure and function of subcellular organelles. Transport; the endoplasmic reticulum, protein secretion and membrane biogenesis; the cytoskeleton; mitochondria, chloroplasts and the generation of useful energy. Credit: 3 semester hours.

215 (PAS215) Foundations of Regulatory Affairs

This course provides the student with an understanding of the laws, regulations and procedures of federal and state guidelines that affect drugs and medical devices during their development, production and distribution stages. Credit: 3 semester hours.

249 (BIO 249) Communication Skills in the Life Sciences

Instruction in the reading of original research articles in a single area of interest to both the student and faculty member. Weekly presentations of papers are required.

250 (PHS 250) Cell and Tissue Culture

Co-requisite 250L. Student is acquainted with cell culture technology as well as biochemical and biophysical characteristics and capabilities of mammalian cells in culture. Credit: 3 semester hours.

250L (PHS 250L) Cell and Tissue CultureLaboratory

Co-requisite: PHS 250. This course is the laboratory component of PHS 250. Hands-on laboratory experiments in cell culture technology are performed by the students. The objective of the laboratory assignments is to expose the student to the biological, biophysical, and toxicological characteristics of mammalian cells in culture. Credit: 1 semester hour. Laboratory fee $135.

252 (IPP 252) Biostatistics

Prerequisites: Undergraduate chemistry or biology and mathematics. Statistical methods used in drug evaluation. While principal emphasis is placed on animal studies, evaluation of techniques applicable to chemistry and pharmacy are also covered. Credit: 3 semester hours.

253 (BIO 253) Laboratory Techniques and Applications II

Project-based hands-on experience with a variety of modern cellular, biochemical and molecular Techniques. A continuation of BIO 248. Credit: 3 semester hours.

255 (IPP 255) Biotechnological Drug Delivery Systems

Prerequisite: Undergraduate course in biological and chemical sciences. This course is designed to focus on various physicochemical, biological and pharmaceutical concepts and strategies involved in the design and development of invasive (parenteral) and noninvasive drug delivery systems for biotechnological drug molecules such as proteins and peptides. Lecture. Credit: 3 semester hours.

256(PAS 256) Princples of Experimental Design

Prerequisite: Undergraduate courses in biological and chemical sciences. This course is designed to develop competencies necessary to solve complex biological problems with efficient experiments using small sample size. Lecture. Credit: 3 semester hours.

257 (PHS 257) Gene Technology in the Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences

Prerequisite: Undergraduate biochemistry or the equivalent. Course presents the basic mechanism underlying the expression of the information encoded in the DNA: transcription, translation and replication. Credit: 3 semester hours.

261 (PHS 261) Laboratory in Gene Technology for the

Pharmaceutical & Allied Health Professions

The use of modern databases to mine known information and synthesize new conclusions from combined resources is used as a starting point. The class is divided into groups, each working with a different protein or a mutant of the target protein. Credit: 1 semester hour

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