This month’s featured module is “Drug Discovery and Classification.” The module was developed by Dr. Michael Nelson, reviewed, and published to the Resource Bank in the fall of 2015. The “Drug Discovery and Classification” module was designed as the first module for a class serving as an introduction to the basic and pharmaceutical sciences (physiology, pathophysiology, immunology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, medicinal chemistry) in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum.

The module focuses on 9 learning goals. The learning goals are:

1. Provide a definition for “drug” and “pharmacognosy”
2. Describe characteristics used to classify drugs into drug families
3. Distinguish between traditional small molecule drugs and macromolecule drugs
4. Describe the differences among natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic drugs
5. Identify sources of drug discovery
6. Describe methods by which drugs are discovered or designed
7. Describe the difference between a generic and brand (trade) drug name
8. When given two or more generic drug names, predict which drugs are within the same drug class
9. Apply concepts of drug discovery and classification to describe a new drug entity

The “Drug Discovery and Classification” module includes a 5 question RAT and 1 Application Exercise.

This module and many more can be found in the TBLC Resource Bank. Click here to log in to the Member’s Site.

Did you know that you can submit your own module to be peer reviewed by fellow TBLC members and included in the TBLC Resource Bank? Click here to download the Resource Bank submission form and e-mail it to resources@tblcadmin.org.