Drug Discovery Sciences

Deciphering drug-target interactions at the molecular level

Overview: The Molecular Pharmacology specialisation within the DDS Master's programme delves into the intricate mechanisms by which drugs interact with biological systems at the molecular and cellular levels. This track equips students with a profound understanding of receptor pharmacology, signal transduction pathways, and the molecular basis of drug efficacy. Emphasising both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, the programme prepares graduates to contribute to the development of novel therapeutics and the optimisation of existing drug therapies.

Core learning objectives:

• Molecular mechanisms of drug action: Gain in-depth molecular understanding of how drugs (small molecules and biologics) interact with their targets, including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), ion channels, receptor tyrosine kinases, nuclear receptors, and enzymes. Investigate the molecular basis of drug efficacy, side effects, and resistance mechanisms.
• Signal transduction pathways: Explore the biochemical aspects of cellular signaling cascades in both health and disease, and identify opportunities to modulate these processes by drug-target interactions.
• Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics: Learn the principles governing the effects of drugs on the body (pharmacodynamics) and the body's effects on drugs (pharmacokinetics), including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).

Hands-on experience with state-of-the-art technologies: The Molecular Pharmacology track emphasises practical training using advanced instrumentation and methodologies:

• Drug modalities: work with small molecule synthetic compounds, biologics (nanobodies and venoms), and (cyclic) peptide/protein ligands, and gain experience in their selection/modification/optimisation processes.
• Cell-based assays: Conduct experiments using cultured cells to assess drug effects on cell viability, proliferation, and signaling pathways.
• Binding studies: Perform binding assays to determine drug affinity and association/dissociation binding kinetics using radioactively and fluorescently labeled ligands.
• Functional assays: Utilise biochemical and biophysical approaches to evaluate receptor activation and downstream effects using bioluminescence- and fluorescence-based biosensors in real time. Identify relevant signaling networks to design and develop biosensor assays using high-end microplate readers and (high content) imaging.
• Molecular biology and biochemistry techniques: Apply methods like PCR, Western blotting, and immunocytochemistry to study protein expression and post-translational modifications.

Career prospects: Graduates are well-prepared for roles as molecular pharmacologists in pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and regulatory agencies. Their expertise in molecular mechanisms of drug action positions them to contribute to drug discovery, development, and safety evaluation. They are also well-equipped to continue their career as research scientists in academia.

Ideal candidates: This specialisation is designed for students with a BSc or BASc background in medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, cellular biology, or related fields, and a keen interest in understanding the molecular basis of drug actions. A commitment to scientific research and a passion for innovation in therapeutic discovery (or development) are essential qualities for prospective students.

Programme curriculum highlights: Students in the Molecular Pharmacology specialisation gain expertise in advanced pharmacological concepts and techniques. Key compulsory courses in this specialisation cover:

• Advanced pharmacology: Focusing on the molecular basis and quantification of drug-target interaction and modulation of cellular responses.
• Drug Target Biochemistry and Signaling: Explores the pathways and networks involved in cellular responses to drugs.
• ADME: Covers the processes affecting drug disposition and the implications for therapeutic efficacy and safety (pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism).
• Research skills and scientific communication: Development of essential research skills, including experimental design, data analysis, and effective communication of scientific findings.

Additionally, students complete a Major Research Project (42-60 ECTS), allowing them to conduct in-depth research in academic or industrial settings.

Research internship opportunities: Students have access to diverse research projects, both within the university and through external collaborations. Examples of internal research internship opportunities include:

1. Investigation of GPCR signaling in cellular models: Studying the role of GPCRs in pathophysiological cellular regulation and identifying potential therapeutic targets.
2. Pharmacological evaluation potential drug candidates (small molecules and biologics (nanobodies)): Assessing the efficacy, potency, and selectivity of new drug candidates using various in vitro models.

External internships may be undertaken at pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and academic hospitals, providing exposure to translational research and clinical applications of pharmacological principles.

Creating new molecules with interesting biological activities

Within the specialisation Synthesis of Drugs you will be working with a team of enthusiastic researchers in our modern labs equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to synthesize novel molecules that have exciting biological activities.

You can create new drug-like molecules that have clinical potential by using synthetic medicinal chemistry and developing structure-activity relationships that will improve drug design. You can also make molecules that will be valuable as chemical biology probes (tools) that will be used by molecular pharmacologists and toxicologists. If your focus is on radiopharmaceuticals, you will work with experts from the Molecular Imaging Center of the University Hospital to synthesise molecules as tracers in Positron Emission Tomography imaging studies.

The Master’s in Drug Discovery and Safety is a two-year programme. This specialisation will be part of your first year of study and comprises three mandatory courses (3x6 EC) and there is a list of elective courses that allow you to tune the study programme towards your own interests and prepare for a major research traineeship (42-60 EC) in one of the specialised labs or with one of our external partners (e.g. biotech companies and -institutes).

Mandatory courses for Synthesis of Drugs (18 EC):

1. Physical Organic Chemistry (6 EC)
2. Spectroscopic Approaches in Medicinal Chemistry (6 EC)
3. Synthetic approaches in medicinal chemistry (6 EC)

Optional courses:

• Computer-Aided Drug Design and Virtual Screening (6 EC)
• ADMET (6 EC)
• Translational Radiopharmaceutical Sciences (6 EC)
• Biopharmaceuticals & Biopharma Proteomics (6 EC)

Visit the Study guide* for course descriptions and the year schedule. 

_{*the current name of the Master's programme, Drug Discovery and Safety, is still mentioned here. From academic year 2023-2024, this Master's programme is called Drug Discovery Sciences.}

Develop better ways to test for drug safety

Within the Molecular Toxicology specialisation you will learn how chemicals are processed in the body and how they can interfere with cellular and biological processes. This includes biological systems involved in biotransformation and transport of xenobiotics, adaptive stress response pathways, and toxicity mechanisms. In this specialisation you can work with recombinant proteins, liver microsomes, human liver and renal cell models as well as differentiated iPS cells and use a wide range of high-end technology platforms, such as HPLC-MS, High Content Imaging and Seahorse.

The Master’s in Drug Discovery and Safety is a two-year programme. This specialisation will be part of your first year of study and comprises three mandatory courses (3x6 EC) and there is a list of elective courses that allow you to tune the study programme towards your own interests and prepare for a major research traineeship (42-60 EC) in one of the specialised labs.

Mandatory courses for Molecular Pharmacology (18 EC):

1.  ADMET (6 EC)
2.  Molecular and Cellular Toxicology (6 EC)
3.  Advanced course on Molecular Toxicology (6 EC)

Optional courses:

• Replacement Refinement and Reduction of Animal Experiments in Biomedical Research: From Origins to Implementation (6EC)
• Human cells in culture (6 EC)
• Advanced Bioanalytical Approaches (6 EC)
• Biopharmaceuticals & Biopharma Proteomics (6 EC)

Visit the Study guide* for course descriptions and the year schedule. 

_{*the current name of the Master's programme, Drug Discovery and Safety, is still mentioned here. From academic year 2023-2024, this Master's programme is called Drug Discovery Sciences.}

Computational tools to improve molecular understanding

VU Amsterdam has a world-renowned reputation in the area of computational sciences and in the specialisation Computer-Aided Drug Design you will use our state-of-the art computational infrastructure and emerging computational technologies to understand the molecular features leading to biological activity.

You will explore the fascinating structures of proteins and other drug targets, using methods such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and free-energy calculations. Even before a molecule has been created and tested, you will be able to predict whether it is likely to have medicinal applications. You can focus on the development of new computational methodology to study ligand-protein interactions and develop more accurate molecular simulation methods. Alternatively, you can focus on CADD applications in the field of drug design, molecular pharmacology or toxicology.

The Master’s in Drug Discovery and Safety is a two-year programme. This specialisation will be part of your first year of study and comprises two mandatory courses (2x6 EC) and there is a list of elective courses that allow you to tune the study programme towards your own interests and prepare for a major research traineeship (42-60 EC) in one of the specialised labs.

Mandatory courses for Computer-Aided Drug Design (18 EC):

1. Data Management in Drug Discovery (6 EC)
2. Computer-Aided Drug Design and Virtual Screening (6 EC)
3. Biomolecular Simulation in Drug Discovery (6 EC)

Optional courses:

• Structure & function in medicinal chemistry
• ADMET (6 EC)
• Biomolecular Simulations in Medicinal Chemistry and Toxicology (6 EC)
• Drug Target Biochemistry and Signaling (6 EC)

Visit the Study guide* for course descriptions and the year schedule. 

_{*the current name of the Master's programme, Drug Discovery and Safety, is still mentioned here. From academic year 2023-2024, this Master's programme is called Drug Discovery Sciences.}

Do you have a passion for bioanalytics, analytical -omics, drug discovery and are you interested in understanding the molecular basis of diseases?

Learn how to design, develop and apply bioanalytical sciences to study biomolecular mechanisms related to health and disease, and to analytically characterize next generation low-molecular weight drugs and biopharmaceuticals. The Bioanalytics specialisation will train you in translational systems approaches for diagnostic biomarker discovery, in studying innovative treatments, and in analyzing novel vaccine candidates. You can also specialise in analytics for forensic toxicology, and in -omics approaches to find and study next-generation drug targets and disease models at the molecular level. Advanced bioanalytical approaches centered around high-resolution chromatography and electrophoresis, and state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, are crucial techniques that you will learn in this specialisation.

The Master’s in Drug Discovery and Safety is a two-year programme. This specialisation will be part of your first year of study and comprises three mandatory courses (3x6 EC) and a large selection of elective courses that allow you to personalize the study programme towards your interests. This will prepare you for a major research traineeship (42-60 EC) in our bioanalytical labs or with one of our external partners (e.g. pharma, biocompanies and -institutes).

Mandatory courses for Bioanalytics (18 EC):

1. ADMET (6 EC) 
2. Advanced Bioanalytical Approaches (6 EC)
3. Biopharmaceuticals & Biopharma Proteomics (6 EC)

Optional courses:

• Translational Radiopharmaceutical Sciences (6 EC)
• Tumor Immunology (6 EC)
• (Bio)Molecular Spectroscopy (6 EC)
• Mass-Spectrometry (6 EC)
• The Human Microbiome in Health and Disease (6 EC)

Visit the Study guide* for course descriptions and the year schedule. 

_{*the current name of the Master's programme, Drug Discovery and Safety, is still mentioned here. From academic year 2023-2024, this Master's programme is called Drug Discovery Sciences.}