The module is focussed on the chemical principles of drug design of new chemotherapeutic agents in relation to the identification and validation of emerging biological molecular targets. The emphasis is on major classes of life-threatening disease: notably, cancer; viral and resistant bacterial infection. You will learn to evaluate existing and new biological targets and contemporary drug design methods (chemical and biological) to combat these disease states. You will develop the skills required to conduct searching laboratory experiments and to produce written scientific reports to research publication standards. You will benefit from industry-based guest-lecturer input, in support of integrated lectures, tutorials, workshops, molecular modelling activities designed to develop your key skills and confidence necessary to work and progress in the field of drug research. Emphasis on: molecular targets in cancer: characterisation and structure of biological targets (genes; enzymes; receptors; nucleic acids). Design, synthesis and mechanism of action of inhibitors of telomerase, the G-quadruplex, DNA-topoisomerases, matrix metalloproteinases. Targeted therapies, drug delivery mechanisms, design of prodrugs; macromolecular prodrugs and nanoconjugates. Synthetic oligonucleotides, PNAs, DNA-and RNA-binding ligands: design and applications. Synthesis and development of non-nucleoside antiviral agents: HIV integrase inhibitors, protease inhibitors. Peptoids and peptide mimics. Mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired drug resistance and MDR. Contemporary drug design to combat resistant bacterial and protozoal infections. Laboratory work in selected drug synthesis, methods of purification and characterisation; solution and solid- phase combinatorial peptide methodology and biological (including enzyme) assays; molecular graphics.