MPS5101 Overview of drug discovery and development
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
MPS5101 Overview of drug discovery and development is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Malaysia and Parkville. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Malaysia, Parkville
- Assessment
- No exam
- 6 tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Overview
This unit introduces you to the principles of modern drug discovery and development and foundational laboratory skills required for ongoing studies in pharmaceutical science.
You will be assigned with colleagues to a virtual pharmaceutical company, where you will undertake a semester-long project to discover and develop a new medicine. Working with the pipeline that underpins modern medicines development, you will undertake a range of individual and team-based enquiry activities, presenting your findings in a variety of written and oral modalities. In doing this, you will be able to articulate how the interplay between the pharmaceutical sciences – operating in a sustainable, socially-responsible and ethical framework – contributes to the discovery, development, formulation, manufacture and regulated clinical use of new drugs. In parallel, you will undertake a series of practical exercises to give you a solid platform to develop laboratory-based research skills.
Upon completing this unit, you will have a sound foundation of knowledge and skills on which to base further advanced studies in pharmaceutical science.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Malaysia | On campus |
| First semester | Parkville | On campus |
Assessment
- Laboratory competency assessmentDemonstrationCompetency hurdle-
- Online quizzesQuiz / Test10%
- Oral presentation from enquiry-based investigation 1Presentation25%
- Written extension task from enquiry-based investigation 2Written25%
- Web page from enquiry-based investigation 1Artefact30%
- Learning portfolio reflectionWritten10%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Investigate and critically analyse how modern medicines are discovered in the context of the discovery and development pipeline
- 2
Critically evaluate the impact of sustainable and socially responsible practices in drug discovery and development
- 3
Use effective written and oral communication skills to present outcomes of enquiry-based research in aspects of drug discovery and development to diverse audiences
- 4
Demonstrate effective teamwork practices in carrying out group enquiry-based research in pharmaceutical science
- 5
Demonstrate the development of communication and critical thinking skills via effective reflective practice
- 6
Demonstrate mastery of foundational laboratory techniques relevant to pharmaceutical science.
Workload and teaching
- Assessments2 hours
- Laboratories12 hours
- Workshops16 hours
- Applied sessions12 hours
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- 24 hours of online modules
- Eight 2-hour workshops
- 12 hours of laboratory work
- Twelve 1-hour Q&A applied sessions
- 20 hours of team-based collaborative work
- 60 hours of independent study
Learning resources
Technology resources
This unit requires access to a laptop that meets minimum specifications. Free specialist software is available via MoVE.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Tony Hughes
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Ong Yong Sze
- Dr Tony Hughes
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MPS5101?
MPS5101 has no prerequisites.
When is MPS5101 offered?
In 2026, MPS5101 runs in Semester 1 at Malaysia and Parkville.
Does MPS5101 have an exam?
No. MPS5101 has 6 assessment tasks and no exam.