Outline

Overview

This unit will explore the early phases of the drug discovery process from identification of a biological target molecule (enzyme or receptor) to identification of lead molecules and how chemical synthesis and biological screening is applied to develop lead molecules into drugs with desired molecular properties. Topics include drug discovery, protein structure and function, protein structure determination, drug synthesis, spectroscopic analysis, functional groups, molecular properties, molecular modelling, structure based drug design, drug screening. Students will also gain experience in a variety of experimental techniques related to drug design. In addition, students will develop skills including critical thinking, the use of information technology and report writing.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Pharmacy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	6 credit points of Biochemistry, 12 credit points of Chemistry, 6 credit points of Pharmacology, 6 credit points of Physiology
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	David Hibbs, david.hibbs@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Final exam Written Exam	60%	Formal exam period	2 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Early Lab Report 1 Introduction and Drug Synthesis Report	5%	Week 05 Due date: 27 Mar 2026 at 23:59	5 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Early Lab Report 2 Drug Design Report Pharmacology	5%	Week 08 Due date: 24 Apr 2026 at 23:59	5 Pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Lab Report Oral Presentation oral presentation of lab report	5%	Week 12	20 mins	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Reflection on group work reflection on own contribution and group work	5%	Week 13 Due date: 25 May 2026 at 23:59	1 page	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Drug Synthesis, Final Report final report drug synthesis labs, enzyme kinetics and organ bath labs	20%	Week 13 Due date: 29 May 2026 at 23:59	20 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Early lab report 1: Students will write an early lab report covering the introduction to the final report. Max 5 pages. A group report (that will be marked) and individual contributions must be submitted together. Students will receive feedback on writing style.
Early lab report 2: Students will write a second early lab report covering the drug synthesis and pharmacology. Max 5 pages. A group report (that will be marked) and individual contributions must be submitted together. Students will receive feedback on writing style.
Drug Synthesis Final Report and Presentation: Students write a report that covers the work performed Labs 1-3 and molecuar modelling workshops 1 and 2. Max 20 pages, references excluded. Results will also be presented orally.
Reflection on own contribution and group work: Students written reflection on their contribution to the laboratory experiments and report writing, and peer feedback on their contribution, 1 page maximum length. Due in week 13.
Final exam: The final exam consists of both multiple-choice and short-answer questions, and will be based on lecture, lab and tutorial material.
No use of AI tools (Final Exam)
The use of automated writing tools and generative artificial intelligence is prohibited in this assessment. You are not allowed to use AI or any other software to create information or answers, to alter your own original writing, or to generate or modify text from other sources. This includes translation software, editing/paraphrasing software and other generative artificial intelligence tools.
Unapproved use is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and may result in penalties, which can include a fail for the assessment.
AI tools permitted (All other assessments)
The use of AI tools is optional. You are permitted to use automated writing tools and generative artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate your learning and completion of this assignment. Please adhere to the following guidelines:
-   Do not enter confidential, personal, copyrighted or otherwise sensitive information into any AI tool.
-   Do not rely on the accuracy of outputs. You remain responsible for your work. This means you must independently verify and edit AI-generated content to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and suitability of the output.
-   If you use these tools, you must be aware of their limitations, biases, and propensity for fabrication.
Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission, must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to reference and acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.
You are advised to keep copies of the prompts you provided and AI outputs as evidence of your research and writing process. This allows you to produce an accurate acknowledgement of AI use when you submit your work. This can be requested by the unit coordinator if there is any uncertainty about the originality of your work.
Repeating students: Exemption from components (laboratory, practical etc) for students repeating PHAR5713 will not be granted unless approved by the MPharm Program Director.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	At HD level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.
Distinction	75 - 84	At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the units material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.
Credit	65 - 74	At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the units material and can solve routine problems and/ or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.
Pass	50 - 64	At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory adequately referencing the original source of the work.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Ongoing	Learning independently including pre-work, post-work, reports and assignments	Self-directed learning (64 hr)
Week 01	Introductory Lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
	Protein Structure and Drug Receptor Interactions	Lecture (1 hr)
	Paradigms in Drug Discovery I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Paradigms in Drug Discovery II	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Strategies for Drug Discovery / Preparation I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Strategies for Drug Discovery / Preparation II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Drug Preparation	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 03	Rational Drug Design and Drug Design Strategies I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Pharmaceutical Calculations	Lecture (1 hr)
	Macromolecular Drug Targets	Lecture (1 hr)
	Pharmaceutical Calculations	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 04	Enzyme Kinetics and Inhibition I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Enzyme Kinetics and Inhibition II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Drug Synthesis	Practical (4 hr)
Week 05	Signal Transduction and Receptor Pharmacology I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Signal Transduction and Receptor Pharmacology II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Enzyme Kinetics	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 06	Nicotinic Receptors & Drug Discovery	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Enzyme Assay	Practical (4 hr)
Week 07	Drug Characterisation and Analysis I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Drug Characterisation and Analysis II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Organ Bath	Practical (4 hr)
Week 08	Nuclear Receptors	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Structure Determination	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 09	Evaluation of Drug Activity I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Evaluation of Drug Activity II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Molecular Modelling	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 10	Purinergic Receptors	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Report Writing	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 11	Bioinformatics	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Evaluation of Drug activity	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 12	Presentations	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 13	Q&A Session: Drug synthesis, Structure determination	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Q&A Session: Pharmacology and enzyme kinetics	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are expected to attend a minimum of 85% of compulsory activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Program Director.

If a tutorial/ lab/workshop is missed due to illness or misadventure, students are to submit a special consideration application along with supporting documentation. Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the commencement of the tutorial/ lab/ workshop will be marked as absent. Students swapping a class without prior approval from the UoS co-ordinator will be marked as absent.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library, available on Canvas.

G.L.Patrick - An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate a working understanding of fundamental concepts and techniques of chemistry necessary for understanding drug analysis, delivery, drug action and therapeutics, and diagnostics
LO2. demonstrate an understanding of the mechanisms of action and the properties drugs display as biologically active molecules in living systems
LO3. identify sources of drugs, the way they are discovered, purified, characterised and analysed, and their physico-chemical properties
LO4. apply appropriate numeracy skills to the solution of pharmacy problems
LO5. engage in continuous reflection and take responsibility for personal and professional development
LO6. demonstrate appropriate attitudes and values in personal and professional dealings and business practice
LO7. demonstrate the ability to learn independently and take responsibility for your learning
LO8. demonstrate skills in time management, goal and priority setting, and self-evaluation
LO9. demonstrate a working understanding of fundamental concepts and techniques of pharmacology necessary for understanding drug action and analysis

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - At the point of general registration as a pharmacist -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
2.1		communicating appropriately and effectively with a socially and culturally diverse range of people in a manner which inspires confidence and trust by
2.1.a		using verbal, written and non-verbal communication which is appropriately tailored to the professional practice context and the capabilities and health literacy of the other person(s)
2.1.b		engaging with all persons in a respectful, culturally appropriate, compassionate, responsive and empathetic manner in professional practice
2.3.a		respecting and appreciating the complementary roles of pharmacists and other members of the interprofessional collaborative care team
3.1.a		applying relevant underpinning knowledge
3.1.b		using a systematic approach to access, critically evaluate and apply relevant evidence
4.1		engaging in regular and systematic reflection to enhance professional learning and practice
4.2		identifying and acknowledging professional limitations and seeking appropriate support where necessary, including additional professional education and/or referral of patients to other health care professionals
4.3		identifying situations where attributes, strengths and weaknesses may affect professional performance and/or personal development and taking appropriate actions (including self-regulation and seeking support where necessary) to minimise risks to public safety

Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
2.3.a		demonstrating an understanding and appreciation of the roles of pharmacists and other members of the interprofessional collaborative care team
3.1.a		applying relevant underpinning knowledge
3.1.b		using a systematic approach to access, critically evaluate and apply relevant evidence
3.12		consistently making accurate arithmetic calculations relating to health care
5.0		D5 Research, inquiry and education

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We have responded to student feedback to implement improvements in this unit.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PHAR5713: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links