Pharmaceutical Analysis, MRes

This course covers a diverse range of pharmaceutical analysis research and includes a substantial research lead project. Why study this course?

This course enables you to develop and further your knowledge of pharmaceutical analysis. You'll study the complexities of organic synthesis, synthesis of biologically important molecules and NMR spectra and develop concepts of analytical chemistry applied to the detection and analysis of drugs.

You can expand your interests by selecting a pharmaceutical analysis lead research project within one of the diverse range of internationally recognised pharmaceutical analysis research groups.

Research project areas such as:

• illicit drug profiling
• synthesis and characterisation of anti-malarial
• analysis of drug-receptor interactions.

Gain hands on experience

As well as working and studying under the direction of world leading pharmaceutical and medicinal science staff you will gain hands on experience of a variety of modern instrumentation including multi-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR), mass spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Academic staff

Our staff were entered in the Subjects Allied to Heath Care 2008 Research Assessment Exercise and were ranked as 4* (world-leading). These results put pharmaceutical and medicinal science research at NTU at the highest level.

Questions? Ask NTU
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 4200

What will I study? Modules

Organic Synthesis and Characterisation of Biologically Active Compounds – 20 Credit Points (CP)
Develop knowledge in the synthesis of relatively complex organic molecules. Topics include: retrosynthetic analysis and total synthesis of biologically important molecules; the controlled formation of C-C bonds and functional group transformations; and structure elucidation of complex molecules.

Drug Detection, Analysis and Screening - 20 CP
Study analysis methods including IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques, GC / HPLC, related hyphenated techniques, and immunoassays. Other areas include spectroscopy, chromatography, multivariate data processing, biophysics and related disciplines to the analytical chemistry of drugs and drug containing materials.

Research Methods and Independent Study - 20 CP
This module provides an underpinning in research skills relevant to the independent study. You will be introduced to the techniques required to formulate a research project and to carry out a literature review. You will be given practice in the use of the library and learning resources including relevant IT packages.

Research Project - 120 CP
You will work on laboratory-based research and will evaluate and review the scientific literature relevant to the topic. Design and conduct experimental work, and present the findings in the form of a presentation, poster and a written thesis.

Example project titles

• Drug delivery devices
• MRI contrast agents
• Peptide-mineral interactions
• Biomineralisation
• Carbohydrate Chemistry
• Asymmetric Synthesis
• Small Molecule Approaches to the Elucidation of Protein Function
• Multiplexing
• Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
• Fluorescence Microscopy
• X-ray diffraction

How will I study?

Terms one – three: three taught modules plus a Research project

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed on a variety of components including:

• written exam
• oral presentation
• assignment
• poster presentation
• thesis.

You will have access to a range of first-class facilities and equipment at the School of Science and Technology. Our laboratories are modern and well-equipped with:

• up-to-date scientific, electronic and computing equipment
• a modern electron microscope suite.

You will also have access to specialist facilities for:

• gas and liquid chromatography
• mass spectroscopy
• atomic absorption spectroscopy
• structure determination including powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction
• solution and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR)
• infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy.

Rosalind Franklin Building
This new facility, opened in 2012, will provide you with access to some of the best laboratory teaching facilities for Chemistry in the UK. The large teaching laboratory space is equipped with modern IT facilities and equipment, ensuring that you receive excellent training in practical laboratory techniques and modern analytical methods.

Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Facility
We invested £2.3 million in the construction of this building in 2002. This has proven to be a worthwhile investment, as this facility supports the School's extensive biomedical research activities.

Natural Sciences Research Facility
This facility supports and enhances the School's research in physics, biosciences, chemistry, imaging, materials and sport.