MSci (Hons) Pharmaceutical Science Integrated Master's degree at Lancaster University

Pharmacology is a cornerstone of modern medicine. It provides the basis for the discovery, development, and use of drugs for the management and treatment of human health and disease. In this module you will learn about the key concepts and principles that underpin the science of pharmacology. We will consider how drugs interact with targets in the body, to cause their physiological effects, and how our bodies interact with these drugs. We will also explore how these are impacted by factors like age, sex, and ethnicity. We’ll then explore drug discovery and development, including the stages involved in taking a new drug from initial concept through to clinical use. Finally, we’ll consider the

This module will introduce you to the fundamentals of atoms and molecules, providing a base understanding from which to build your breadth and depth of knowledge. Through a series of interconnected topics, you will revisit many previously encountered chemistry concepts in a more rigorous and comprehensive manner, serving as a bridge to university-level chemistry. This will ensure you are exposed early on to fundamental chemistry concepts, irrespective of the curriculum you studied prior. The initial focus will be on building a picture of how electrons behave in atoms and molecular bonds, before covering basic principles of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. Key topics in this module

Further explore key chemistry principles and gain a broad overview of future areas of chemistry that will be taught throughout your degree. Explore key concepts of reactivity and mechanism, building a more complete model of the world of atoms and molecules. Key topics in this module include: Chemical equilibria and kinetics Main group chemistry Transition metal coordination chemistry Reaction mechanisms and reactivity in organic chemistry

This module introduces you to the essential skills required to support your studies in the biosciences. You will learn how to design and undertake safe, ethical, hypothesis-driven experiments, and gain hands-on experience of essential laboratory skills and equipment. This is complemented with training in carrying out scientific calculations and the use of computational tools to effectively analyse and present diverse types of data. Finally, this module prepares you to communicate your research to a scientific audience through effective presentation of results and developing a scientific writing style that summarises and critically evaluates your results in the context of current scientific l

This module will introduce you to the incredible world of microbiology. You’ll learn how some microbes are harmful, but others have important roles in the environment, in our bodies and are even exploited in the food industry. Through hands-on practical sessions and workshops, you’ll learn how to identify microbes and understand the dynamics of microbial growth. You will also learn about how the human host responds to exposure to pathogenic microorganisms. We will explore the intricate relationship between pathogens and human health and explore how pathogens cause disease. The biology of infecting organisms and the host’s immune response will both be examined as these are vital components in

Cells are the basic building blocks of life. In this module you will be introduced to how cells use biological molecules to perform specific functions. All cellular life, from single celled bacteria and yeast to complex multicellular organisms, including plants and humans, synthesise simple organic molecules such as sugars, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids. You will learn how organisms are able to synthesise these molecules to build complex biomolecules to store energy and genetic information. In addition, you will gain knowledge about the function of specific cell types, and intracellular organelles that perform essential processes within cells. You will learn how cells use defined pr

In this module you’ll explore the molecular principles that govern cellular function and metabolism. You’ll study the structure and function of key biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, with an emphasis on their roles in metabolic pathways and other essential cellular mechanisms. Topics include enzyme kinetics, metabolic regulation, and the biochemical basis of energy transfer within the cell. The module will provide you with the molecular underpinnings of human health and highlight how disruptions in biochemical pathways contribute to disease development. Laboratory sessions will let you gain a more in-depth and practical understanding of the topics covered. By the end o

This module takes you through the process of drug development - from initial discovery to market. We'll cover target identification and validation followed by hit identification and lead discovery. You’ll learn about different approaches for finding new drugs: from high throughput screening of compound libraries to focused screens, virtual screens and structure-based drug design. You’ll gain insight into challenges in assessing the efficacy and safety of new drugs, including the testing strategies and legal requirements involved. We will explore how preclinical models are used to test pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters and how this helps determine factors like drug formulation an

Develop your knowledge and expertise in the characterisation of chemical systems. By integrating models of structure, bonding, motion and reactivity with spectroscopic and analytical techniques that can directly probe and interrogate chemical systems, you will develop an enhanced view of their properties, structure and behaviour. Key topics in this module include: Analytical chemistry Symmetry and group theory Organic spectroscopy Inorganic spectroscopy Macromolecules Transition metal molecular orbital theory Application of these techniques is explored in practical and skills modules.

Develop further knowledge and expertise in organic chemical synthesis, focusing on mechanistic and structural chemistry and expanding on the approaches we can use to rationalise and predict the behaviour, structure and reactions of organic molecules. You will also cover basic organometallic chemistry and the application of organometallics to organic synthesis. You will further your theoretical knowledge and understanding of organic chemistry, expanding on the approaches used to rationalise and predict molecular structure and functional group reactivity. Key topics in this module include: Retrosynthetic analysis Aromatic chemistry Alkene and alkyne chemistry Enol and enolate chemistry Conform

This module will equip you with an in-depth understanding of critical concepts in the science of pharmacology through exploration of real-world examples. You will gain deeper insight into how pharmacodynamic parameters determine how drugs are administered and their effects on the body. In addition to looking at how drugs affect the body, we'll also discuss how the body affects drugs - exploring in detail the pharmacokinetic parameters of absorption, distribution metabolism and excretion (ADME). You'll learn how drug formulation and delivery route can alter ADME characteristics, enabling a drug's effects to be fine-tuned to achieve the required clinical outcome. We will cover adverse effects

Students will develop core practical skills and laboratory expertise through a structured progression, which introduces key techniques and skills, and develops them through application to increasingly complex and time-extended practical experiments. The introduction of more advanced practical techniques prepares students for the more specialised and open-ended practical and project work that will be encountered at Level 6 and beyond.

This module will provide an in-depth exploration of novel pharmacological approaches that are revolutionising the treatment of many conditions. You will be introduced to new concepts in the design and use of small molecules to treat disease. For example, we will look at how PROTACs and molecular glues can be used to degrade target proteins rather than inhibit them. We will also discuss recently emerging therapeutic avenues such as biologics, nanotechnology, cell and gene therapy, immunological therapies, and other medicine modalities. You'll understand how these approaches work and the benefits they offer in treating and preventing disease.

The research project provides you with first-hand experience of research and the opportunity to be immersed in an area of work of current interest in biomedical and life sciences. Your research project is underpinned by training in research methods to support you in planning, conducting, and reporting on an open-ended investigation. Throughout your project, you’ll receive one-to-one support from a member of academic staff with expertise in your specific area of study. Projects cover a wide variety of topics and may be carried out in a variety of ways. They involve a significant amount of original work and analysis, so you gain experience in a range of skills, including experimental design an

Whilst scientific advances have led to tremendous improvements in human health over the past century, significant challenges remain. These include, problems associated with an ageing population and an increase in non-communicable diseases, new and re-emerging infectious diseases, the impact of environmental factors and social determinants on health, as well as continued disparity in access to healthcare provision across different population groups. In this module you will study challenges of global significance that will provide you with a real-world perspective on human health and the multi-disciplinary and collaborative approaches required to tackle challenges on a national and internation

This optional module covers topics informed by current research, providing significant depth in a specialised area of chemistry. This module focuses on advanced topics in organic chemistry and will be of particular interest to you if you would like to focus on pharmaceutical, medicinal, and advanced mechanistic chemistry. Key topics in this module include: Chemical biology and biomolecular chemistry Medicinal chemistry and drug design Advanced asymmetric synthesis and catalysis

Significant emphasis is placed on advanced practical chemistry skills, where you will focus on developing your independence in practical work, and on more open-ended and extended practical investigations. Build on the breadth of practical experience gain so far to further develop your expertise and confidence in advanced practical chemistry. Here, you will study more specialised practical techniques in more extended, open-ended practical’s that connect and develop skills from across the discipline and employ them in increasingly unfamiliar contexts. These practical skills directly complement the project that you will undertake this year.

Build upon topics learned in earlier years, covering the synthesis and structure of both organic molecules, the application of transition metal complexes to the catalysis of organic transformations, and further developing your knowledge and expertise in advanced synthetic chemistry. Key topics in this module include: Retrosynthesis and selective synthetic strategies Asymmetric synthesis Mechanistic and physical organic chemistry Reactive intermediates and photochemical methods Transition metal and organometallic chemistry

In this module you will undertake an extended research project on a specific topic within your field of study. The MSci project enables you to build on the research skills you developed during your Biosciences Research Project but further enhances your independence and experience of working in a research environment. You will undertake a review of relevant and contemporary research literature, apply appropriate research methods and techniques to collect, analyse and interpret data; and present your findings in an extensive written report and oral examination. The overall aim of this module is to help you develop greater competence in conducting rigorous, independent research, and to refine y

Did you know that your brain is formed in the first 4 weeks of pregnancy and continues to mature into your mid-20s? Did you also know that your brain shrinks by about five percent per decade after the age of 40? In this module, you’ll study a range of brain disorders that typically emerge at different points during childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Using examples such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease, you’ll learn how genetic and environmental factors lead to the dysfunction of brain cells and associated pathologies. The impact of this on behavioural and cognitive changes will also be discussed. You’ll also actively participate in discussions of current and emerging met

Cancer is a complex disease that arises from our own cells and tissues. Mutation in specific genes play a key role in promoting tumourigenesis. Consequently, these molecular differences between cancer cells and our healthy tissues, provide an opportunity to target cancer. You will explore the hallmarks of cancer to gain insight into how cancer cells differ from normal cells, learning how these provide opportunities to effectively treat cancer. You will also learn how a deep understanding of the genetic changes in cancer cells can identify which patients would benefit from specific treatments. The immune system plays a key role in tumourigenesis and for the treatment of cancer. You will devel

How do new medicines get discovered? What needs to happen to get new medicines available to people who need them? This module will provide you with the tools to critically evaluate the drug discovery process, using examples of successes and failures. You will learn how current and emerging tools, such as genomics, virtual design, high throughput screening and safety testing are used to allow new medicines to reach clinical trials and regulatory approval. You will participate in discussions to unpick what we mean by diseases or conditions with unmet medical and societal need, intellectual property, Big Pharma and Small Biotech. This module will also help you recognise the wide array of roles

Beyond the classical role of protecting us from infection, we are now beginning to uncover the key role of inflammation in obesity, cancer, and ageing. Therefore, understanding our immune system, as the key orchestrator of inflammation, has never been more important. In this module you will gain advanced knowledge of the innate and adaptive immune system, understanding classical and novel cell types, their role in preventing disease and how failure of the immune system results in chronic infection or autoimmunity. You’ll study immunological disorders and how application of innovative immunological research is applied to biomedical science and clinical practice. You will also explore how our

If (bio)inorganic and materials chemistry is where your interests lie, this module will build upon your previous knowledge of the area. Delve into the design, synthesis, and characterisation of novel materials with applications in health, sustainable technologies and bioimaging. Emphasis is on the integration of theoretical principles with practical applications. Key topics in this module include: Chemistry for biomedical imaging Biomaterials for health

This module will be of particular interest to you if you would like to concentrate on drug design and advanced organic synthesis. You will explore frontiers in organic chemistry, emphasising the design and synthesis of complex organic molecules and their applications in diverse areas (e.g. materials, drug discovery). You will touch on modern synthetic methodologies, including photochemistry, metal catalysis, and stereoselective reactions and other sustainable methods. Key topics in this module include: Physical organic chemistry for mechanistic analysis and sustainability Frontier methods in innovative and sustainable synthesis Catalysis and applications in industrial chemistry

In this module you will study Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), a diverse group of conditions caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi, and toxins found in snake venom. The World Health Organisation estimates that NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, disproportionately affecting impoverished communities in tropical and sub-tropical regions, with significant health, societal, and economic consequences. Despite the tremendous impact NTDs have on human health and wellbeing, these conditions are considered ‘neglected,’ as historically they have received little attention and funding from the global community. In this module you will develop a de