Learning the fundamental concepts of structure-based drug development using rational design and applying them to case studies.
Prerequisiti
Bachelor-level knowledge of molecular biology and chemistry.
Metodi didattici
Lectures; practice exercises to use databases and apply target structure analysis; round tables between teacher and students to further delve into topics addressed in the lectures and into more general themes about working in a biotech company.
Verifica Apprendimento
Mandatory attendance of lectures and interactive activities (no final exam).
Testi
Slides and other material relevant to the course will be provided by the teacher.
Contenuti
Introduction to the pharmaceutical development process (from concept to the clinic). Small vs large molecule biotherapeutics, pros and cons and applicability. Antibodies and foundational immunology. Antibody discovery: approaches to generate repertoires (incl. hybridoma, mammalian cell, in vitro and ML-based). In vivo vs in vitro antibody libraries, options and limitations. Antibody rational engineering and optimization: demo of the Abacus suite for sequence/structure based optimization via Machine Learning. Antibody rational engineering and optimization: liabilities and immunogenicity. Structure based rational design: introduction and demo utilizing the MOE or Schrodinger suite. Rational design and engineering of affinity and stability. Example studies of rational design in biotherapeutics: antibodies, antibody-like and new approaches. Integrating deep sequencing for antibody engineering. Career options in the pharmaceutical development field, pros and cons and discussion.
