MPS5305 Design and manufacture of mRNA therapeutics
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
MPS5305 Design and manufacture of mRNA therapeutics is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, offered in 2027 in Winter at Parkville. It needs MPS5101.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2027
- Winter
- Parkville
- Assessment
- Exam 30%
- and 3 other tasks
- Workload
- 25 hours
- per semester
Reviews
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Requisites
Before MPS5305
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MPS5305
No unit lists MPS5305 as a prerequisite in the 2027 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: MPS5203 with minimum result of Distinction (70%).
Overview
This unit provides the opportunity to develop practical and computational capabilities across the design, optimisation and manufacture of mRNA medicines. You will gain experience with contemporary approaches used to design and evaluate mRNA constructs and with laboratory technologies applied to mRNA synthesis, purification, lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation and mRNA-LNP characterisation. Throughout the unit, you will develop an integrated understanding of how molecular design, manufacturing conditions and analytical outcomes influence product performance and quality. The unit structure will also enable the cultivation of critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to interpret experimental data, troubleshoot development challenges and make professionally informed decisions in individual and team-based pharmaceutical development contexts.
Offerings in 2027
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Winter semester | Parkville | On campus |
Assessment
- Knowledge check quizzesQuiz / Test10%
- mRNA Design and Optimisation InterviewExamination30%
- mRNA Manufacturing Lab Skill AssessmentDemonstration30%
- Capstone ReportProject30%
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
Implement the scientific principles underpinning mRNA vaccine development, inclusive of mRNA construct design, RNA modalities, delivery systems, manufacturing processes and quality requirements.
- 2
Apply mRNA design and optimisation principles to develop constructs with improved stability, translational efficiency, therapeutic performance and manufacturability.
- 3
Evaluate, optimise and de-risk mRNA constructs using computational and AI-enabled tools.
- 4
Select and justify appropriate RNA modalities and delivery systems for particular therapeutic objectives and within developmental constraints.
- 5
Demonstrate key mRNA manufacturing operations, including in vitro transcription, mRNA purification and lipid nanoparticle formulation, using appropriate laboratory practices.
- 6
Critically analyse and justify how construct design, material attributes and manufacturing process parameters influence mRNA product quality and performance.
- 7
Interpret and integrate computational, experimental and analytical data to evaluate product quality, troubleshoot development challenges and recommend appropriate design, process and control strategies.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops25 hours
- Applied sessions15 hours
- Assessments7 hours
- Laboratories15 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachRole play
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachIndustry-based learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
Workshops: 3 x 3-hour sessions, 6 x 2-hour sessions and 1 x 4-hour session (Total: 25 hours)
Applied: 5 x 3-hour sessions (Total: 15 hours)
Laboratory: 5 x 3-hour sessions (Total: 15 hours)
Assessment: 7 hours
Online Modules: 12 hours
Self-directed study: 70 hours
Learning resources
Technology resources
This unit requires access to a laptop that meets minimum specifications. Free specialist software is available via MoVE.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Jennifer Short
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Jennifer Short
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MPS5305?
You need MPS5101 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is MPS5305 offered?
In 2027, MPS5305 runs in Winter at Parkville.
How much work is MPS5305?
The handbook expects about 25 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does MPS5305 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 30% of the final mark, alongside 3 other tasks.
More details
- Credit points
- 6
- Level
- 5
- Study level
- Postgraduate
- Faculty
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Type
- Coursework
- EFTSL
- 0.125
- Student contribution
- SCA Band 2
- Study abroad
- Not available
- Handbook years
- 2027