Course description
Programme description
- Well equipped laboratories allowing students lots of 'hands-on' time for a range of modern techniques and instruments.
- Learning about Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC) and regulatory affairs which are crucial aspects when working in industry.
- The opportunity to undertake an extended project of interest in the laboratories of internationally rated scientists.
Our advanced course is concerned with the science and application of modern and traditional techniques for analysis of pharmaceutical products to support the discovery and development of better medicines and provide regulatory data ensuring product integrity.
The programme consists of four taught modules and a fifth project module: Principles of Drug Delivery and Disposition; Principles of Analytical Techniques, Numerical Methods and Regulatory Affairs; Advanced Spectroscopic, Instrumental, Chemical and Bioanalytical Techniques; Separation Science, Quality Control and Regulatory Matters; Research Project (or a Critical Review of Scientific Literature).
Programme format and assessment
Lectures; laboratory classes; tutorials; laboratory-based research project or dissertation; modules assessed by 30 per cent coursework, 70 per cent exam.
Programme modules for MSc Pharmaceutical Analysis & Quality Control
Principles of Chemical Analysis Techniques, Numerical Methods and Regulatory Affairs (Core Module)
An introductory Module concerned with the fundamental philosophy, principles and practice of Chemical Analysis and Quality Control with particular reference to the pharmaceutical sciences. On completion of the Module the student should have: an appreciation of the science and role of analytical chemistry; the ability to design and undertake measurement protocols to GLP standard; an understanding of basic numerical methods and statistics used in chemical analysis and quality control; an appreciation of the scope and limitations of various techniques for product identification, the assignment of molecular structure and the analysis of complex mixtures. Assessment of the Module is based upon performance in a written Examination (70%) and Coursework (30%).
Principles of Drug Delivery and Disposition (Core Module)
An introductory Module which provides an overview of drug delivery and drug disposition, i.e. drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and elementary pharmacokinetics, providing essential background knowledge for the pharmaceutical scientist. On completion of the Module the student should have: an understanding of the significance of physicochemical properties in drug delivery and drug disposition; an appreciation of the approaches for delivering drugs to the body and the associated dosage forms; an understanding of the methods for evaluation of drug release from tablets, capsules and inhalers; an understanding of the structure of biological membranes and the various mechanisms associated with drug transport across them; an appreciation of the potential sites, reactions and factors which influence drug metabolism; an appreciation of the significance of drug metabolism in relation to biological activity; an understanding of the principles of pharmacokinetics and be able to define and calculate the commonly used pharmacokinetic parameters. Assessment of the Module is based upon performance in a written Examination (70%) and Coursework (30%).
Research project/dissertation - Pharmaceutical Sciences (Core Module)
Students on all three Masters Degree Programmes in the Pharmaceutical Sciences (Biopharmacy, Pharmaceutical Analysis & Quality Control, Pharmaceutical Technology) are required to carry out a Research Project. The aim of this Module is to provide students with the opportunity to study a particular topic in depth, give practical experience of research methodologies and in the presentation of scientific data, both orally and as a written report. The Department of Pharmacy at King's is research active and, as a result, Masters candidates are offered a considerable choice of research topics from across the entire spectrum of the Pharmaceutical Sciences, including: computational methods with applications in the pharmaceutical sciences; drug delivery & formulation science; drug metabolism & pharmacokinetics; toxicology; pharmaceutical analysis; isolation, identification and biological evaluation of materials derived from natural sources. The selection and allocation of Research Projects is carried out in November and students are required to select three possible topics from a list of usually over sixty available, the final allocation being made by the Programme Directors. Obviously the projects selected must be appropriate for the degree Programme being undertaken. Project work starts in the second semester and students are expected to spend the equivalent of two days a week working on their projects. Following the summer examinations (these are generally held in May/June) work on the projects is carried out full time and the final report is submitted for assessment in mid-August. Students undertaking the degree Programmes Part-Time are normally expected to carry out a practical based project at their place of work, and they frequently have ideas for areas of investigation which would be of interest to their employers. However, depending on the nature of their employment it is appreciated that this may not be possible for everyone. In such instances these individuals are permitted to submit a Critical Survey of the Literature (Dissertation) rather than a practical based research project. Research Projects/Dissertations are assessed on the basis of the final written report (90%) and a short oral presentation (10%) at the end of the second semester.
Advanced Spectroscopic, Instrumental, Chemical and Bio-analytical Techniques
This specialist module builds on module Principles of Analytical Techniques, Numerical Methods and Regulatory Affairs and describes current practices in spectroscopic and other methods of analysis. The module is concerned with both small molecule and biological-based medicines. The instrumental techniques discussed include : UV/Vis, Fluorescence, Atomic Spectroscopy, IR & Raman, NMR, Optical Activity, Mass Spectrometry, Thermal Methods and Microscopy. Other techniques presented include : Immunoassays, Titrimetry and aspects of Electrochemistry. On completion of this Module, the student should have: a mature understanding of the theory and application of modern spectroscopic, instrumental, chemical and bioanalytical techniques; the ability to select both the analytical technique and method of choice for a particular circumstance; the ability to apply the modern knowledge gained in this course to provide practical solutions to real questions. Assessment of this Module is based upon performance in a written Examination (70%) and Coursework (30%).
Separation Science, Bioanalytical Techniques, Quality Control and Regulatory Matters
This specialist module builds on module Principles of Analytical Techniques, Numerical Methods and Regulatory Affairs and describes current practices in separation science (including HPLC, GC, SEC and Electrophoresis methods). Aspects of regulatory matters (quality assurance and control) are also presented pertinent to the manufacture and licensing of medicines and with special reference to other aspects of this programme. On completion of the Module, the student should have: a mature understanding of the theory and application of modern separation science techniques for chemical analysis; the ability to select the chromatographic method of choice for a particular circumstance; a deeper understanding of the regulatory matters and quality assurance principles currently in practice for the manufacture and licensing of medicines; the ability to apply the modern knowledge gained in this course to provide practical solutions to real questions. Assessment of the Module is based upon performance in a written Examination (70%) and Coursework (30%).
Duration
One year FT, two years PT (one day per week), September to September.
