MSc Natural Product Drug Discovery

Key details

MSC NATURAL PRODUCT DRUG DISCOVERY

Start Year

2023

Attendance

Full Time

Award

Degree of Master of Science

Duration (years)

Natural products possess enormous structural and chemical diversity that cannot be matched by synthetic molecules. They are an incredibly important source of biologically active compounds for both human healthcare and agriculture, and recent technological advances mean that their application can now be fully explored.

This Master’s course will equip you with theoretical and practical knowledge in the science of natural product discovery, from microorganisms to plants and animals. Your studies will include nutriceuticals and herbal extracts, antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance and the major human diseases.

We place an emphasis on translational research and the drug discovery process, taking natural products from bench to bedside. And you’ll gain a thorough cross-disciplinary grounding with a unique mix of organic chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry and microbiology; ideal preparation for a research-based career, taking theoretical knowledge through to practical application.

About

On our one-year Master’s programme, studying with academic and industrial experts who are currently active in natural product research and drug discovery, you'll gain the key skills, and discover the latest cutting-edge methods, in natural product discovery.

Your learning will combine lectures, seminars and laboratory practicals, as well as an independent research project and self-guided study. Our expert team is based across the Norwich Research Park, including the School of Pharmacy and the John Innes Centre. Guest speakers from the pharmaceutical and biotech sector will also present sessions covering topics such as the industrial applications of natural product research.

In your first semester, you’ll gain a solid theoretical foundation in all aspects of the subject, including natural product drug discovery, human physiology and the targeting of human diseases, and natural product chemistry and genetics.

In your second semester, you’ll put the theory into practice, designing, executing and interpreting your own experiments using the very latest methods and technologies. All of which will culminate in your hands-on, laboratory-based Master’s research project, which you'll deliver with the expert guidance of a member of staff.

September 2023 opportunities. Discover more

WHATEVER YOU LOVE, GO FURTHER

Whether you want to diversify or specialise – explore your options.

LEARN MORE >

Scholarship Finder

Explore our generous range of scholarships to support your study.

FIND OUT MORE >

Will a Master's help my career?

Discover why further study can have a positive career benefit.

FIND OUT MORE >

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

The course is designed to prepare you for a research-based career, placing an emphasis on theoretical knowledge and its practical application. Therefore, your independent research project accounts for 50% of your assessment, and the remainder comes from laboratory practicals, essays and oral presentations.

There will be no written examinations.

Structure

Our one-year course is broken down into two semesters: taught modules in semester one and independent research in semester two. The three taught modules will provide you with core knowledge and practical skills in natural product research and drug discovery.

Introduction to natural products and drug discovery

This overview of the drug discovery process will include the following topics:

Nutriceuticals and herbal extracts
Antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance
Classes of natural products and their biosynthesis
Sources of natural products – terrestrial and marine
Microbial fermentation techniques
Methods for the isolation, purification and characterisation of natural products

Targets for drug discovery

In this module, you’ll study human physiology and look at drug discovery targets for major human diseases. You’ll also cover target validation, in both vitro high-throughput screening and animal models.

Natural product chemistry and genetics

Natural product semi-synthesis and synthesis
Synthesis of analogues of natural products
Recombinant DNA techniques
Applications to engineered biosynthesis

In your second semester, you’ll undertake an independent research project on the topic of your choosing, supervised by a staff member. Examples of previous topics include natural product medicinal chemistry, discovery of novel natural products, pharmacological screening of natural products and biosynthetic pathway manipulation.

Teaching and Learning

Our taught modules consist of a set of core lectures by our academic and industrial experts, all of whom are actively working in natural product research and drug discovery.

Their teaching will be reinforced by active learning in seminars, small group workshops and team assignments. And you'll develop practical skills in natural product research through guided laboratory sessions in phytochemistry, nutriceuticals, microbial fermentation, natural product isolation and high-throughput screening for biological activity.

Independent study

You'll be expected to build up your knowledge of the subject through independent study. Our taught modules will be supplemented by reading material in the form of textbooks, review articles and research publications.

In semester two, you’ll complete a hands-on, laboratory-based Master’s research project. Each student will work on an independent topic under the guidance of a staff member, through which you will gain experience in the design, execution and interpretation of experiments using the latest methods and technologies.

September 2023 opportunities. Discover more

Open Days

Assessment for Year 1

There will be no written examinations.

Compulsory Modules

INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL PRODUCTS AND DRUG DISCOVERY

Code PHA-7024A

Credits 30

Overview of the drug discovery process. Nutriceuticals and herbal extracts. Antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. Classes of natural products and their biosynthesis. Sources of natural products- terrestrial and marine. Microbial fermentation techniques.

TARGETS FOR DRUG DISCOVERY

Code PHA-7025A

Credits 30

Introduction to human physiology. Drug discovery targets for major human diseases. Target validation, in vitro high-throughput screening and animal models.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Code PHA-7027X

Credits 90

In this module you will undertake an independent research project supervised by a NRP staff member. Projects will focus on the chemistry, pharmacology or molecular biology of natural products.

NATURAL PRODUCT CHEMISTRY AND GENETICS

Code PHA-7026A

Credits 30

In this module you will study: - Methods for extraction, isolation and purification; - Structure elucidation of natural products; - Natural product semi-synthesis and synthesis; - Synthesis of analogues of natural products; - Recombinant DNA techniques, and applications to engineered biosynthesis.

September 2023 opportunities. Discover more

Open Days

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. The University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.

MSc NATURAL PRODUCT DRUG DISCOVERY

MSC NATURAL PRODUCT DRUG DISCOVERY