Biomedical Research and Drug Discovery Internship Program
in BIOTECHNOLOGYAbout this course
Biomedical Research & Drug Discovery Internship Program: 6-Week Structured Learning and Experience
Introduction
Biomedical Research and Drug Discovery are pivotal fields driving innovations in healthcare, diagnostics, and treatment. This internship offers aspiring biomedical scientists and pharmaceutical researchers a comprehensive understanding of drug development, from disease mechanism exploration to AI applications in modern drug design. Participants will gain hands-on exposure to bioinformatics tools, molecular docking, pharmacogenomics, and ethical practices in biomedical research. The program culminates in a capstone project to design a hypothetical drug discovery plan.
Program Highlights
Week 1: Foundations of Biomedical Research
· Introduction to Biomedical Research
• Task: Research and write a report on the scope and significance of biomedical research.
• Outcome: A 500-word report outlining key areas, importance, and real-world impacts.
· Drug Discovery Process Overview
• Task: Create a flowchart explaining the stages from target identification to clinical trials.
• Outcome: A detailed flowchart with brief explanations of each drug discovery stage.
· Understanding Disease Mechanisms
• Task: Choose a disease and describe its biological mechanism and progression.
• Outcome: A 600-word explanation with diagrams of molecular or cellular events.
Week 2: Drug Targets and Computational Tools
· Target Identification & Validation
• Task: Study and document the techniques used to identify drug targets.
• Outcome: A 2-page summary with examples of enzymes, receptors, or pathways.
· Bioinformatics in Drug Discovery
• Task: Use online tools to analyze a protein sequence involved in disease.
• Outcome: Report with sequence data, annotations, and 3D protein structure predictions.
· High-Throughput Screening (HTS)
• Task: Prepare a presentation on how HTS identifies potential drug candidates.
• Outcome: A 6-slide deck explaining HTS tools, workflows, and applications.
Week 3: Lead Discovery and Optimization
· Molecular Docking Simulation
• Task: Perform a basic molecular docking using free online software.
• Outcome: Screenshots and a short explanation of ligand-receptor interactions.
· Lead Optimization Techniques
• Task: Describe how drug candidates are chemically refined.
• Outcome: A 1-page report with real-world examples of structural modifications.
· ADMET Properties in Drug Design
• Task: Analyze the importance of ADMET in drug evaluation.
• Outcome: A table summarizing ADMET tools and their use in drug safety.
Week 4: Preclinical to Clinical Research
· Preclinical Testing Models
• Task: Compare in vitro and in vivo drug testing techniques.
• Outcome: A comparative chart showing benefits, limitations, and case examples.
· Introduction to Clinical Trials
• Task: Outline the phases of clinical trials and objectives.
• Outcome: A 2-page document explaining Phases I to IV.
· Regulatory Frameworks in Drug Approval
• Task: Research FDA and EMA regulatory procedures.
• Outcome: A comparison table detailing drug approval steps in the US vs Europe.
Week 5: Personalized Medicine, AI & Ethics
· Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine
• Task: Explore genetic variation in drug response.
• Outcome: Case-study-based report on pharmacogenomic applications.
· Role of AI & Machine Learning in Drug Discovery
• Task: Write a short review on AI’s impact on drug development.
• Outcome: A 500-word article on AI tools, trends, and applications.
· Intellectual Property and Patents
• Task: Understand drug patent basics.
• Outcome: A 1-page summary outlining patenting steps and examples.
· Ethical Considerations in Biomedical Research
• Task: Analyze a case study on clinical trial ethics.
• Outcome: Reflective report discussing ethical principles and dilemmas.
Week 6: Literature, Lab Techniques & Capstone
· Scientific Literature Review Skills
• Task: Review a peer-reviewed article.
• Outcome: A 700-word structured literature review with insights and critique.
· Lab Techniques in Biomedical Research
• Task: Document techniques like PCR, ELISA, Western Blot, etc.
• Outcome: A reference guide with principles, procedures, and applications.
· Emerging Trends in Drug Discovery
• Task: Research new advancements like CRISPR, mRNA therapies, or nanomedicine.
• Outcome: A blog-style article on the impact of one emerging technology.
· Final Capstone Project: Drug Discovery Plan
• Task: Choose a disease and propose a hypothetical drug development plan.
• Outcome: A 4-page report detailing disease background, target, tools used, and strategy.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of this internship, participants will:
· Understand the biomedical research and drug discovery lifecycle.
· Utilize bioinformatics tools and molecular simulation platforms.
· Analyze ADMET, HTS, and clinical trial methodologies.
· Explore ethical, regulatory, and personalized medicine aspects.
· Apply AI in biomedical contexts and develop literature review skills.
· Propose a full-fledged drug discovery approach in a capstone project.
Requirements
Laptop
Internet Connection
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To understand the fundamental scope, importance, and impact of biomedical research on healthcare and society.
To visualize and understand the end-to-end process of drug discovery from concept to clinical testing.
To explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of a specific disease and understand its progression in the human body.
To understand the techniques used in identifying and validating biological targets for drug development.
To apply bioinformatics tools to analyze disease-related proteins and understand their therapeutic relevance.
To understand how High-Throughput Screening accelerates the identification of potential drug candidates using automated technology.
To gain hands-on experience in simulating drug-receptor interactions using free molecular docking software.
To understand how chemical structures of drug candidates are refined for better efficacy and reduced toxicity.
To explore how evaluating ADMET properties helps predict the success and safety of drug candidates.
To compare in vitro and in vivo models used in preclinical drug testing, and understand their respective advantages.
To understand the structure, purpose, and progression of clinical trials in evaluating drug safety and efficacy.
To compare the regulatory steps involved in drug approval by major global health agencies.
To understand how genetic differences impact drug response and how personalized medicine tailors treatments accordingly.
To explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing biomedical research and drug discovery.
To understand how intellectual property (IP) rights protect innovations in pharmaceuticals, and the importance of patents in drug commercialization.
To critically evaluate ethical challenges in biomedical research and understand the application of bioethical principles in real-world studies.
To develop skills in reading, analyzing, and summarizing scientific literature relevant to biomedical research.
To create a quick-reference guide on common biomedical laboratory techniques, understanding their principles, procedures, and real-world use.
To explore a cutting-edge innovation in biomedical research and communicate its potential in a simplified and engaging format.
To integrate knowledge gained through the internship into a comprehensive, hypothetical proposal for drug development targeting a real disease.
