Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2016

Medicinal and Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences Master Information
Compensatory Courses
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
535-0310-00LGlycobiology in Drug DevelopmentW1 credit1VV. I. Otto
AbstractProtein-based drugs constitute around 25% of new approvals and most of them are glycoproteins. Using selected examples the course aims at providing insight into our present knowledge on glycosylation-activity relationships and the production and analysis of glycoprotein-based drugs.
ObjectiveGaining insight into the glycobiology of therapeutically used glycoproteins. This implies knowing and understanding
- the major types of protein-linked glycans and their biosynthesis
- the most important expression systems for production of recombinant glycoproteins
- methods used to alter or manipulate glycosylation
- the most prominent clinically used glycoproteins and how glycosylation influences their therapeutic profile.
- Current methods for the qualitative and quantitative characterization of glycoproteins
and being able to apply this knowledge in other contexts.
Contentlecture plan:
1. Introduction: Carbohydrates - "life's first language"
2. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), glucocerebrosidase and the biosynthesis of N-glycans
3. PSGL-1 and the biosynthesis of O-glycans;
P-selectin and other lectins
4. The glycoprotein hormones and the production and analysis of therapeutic glycoproteins
5. Monoclonal antibodies and the modification of their therapeutic profile through glycoengineering
6. EPO "the same but different"
Lecture notesThe slides used for the lectures will be provided online
Literature- Essentials of Glycobiology 2nd edition, A. Varki, R.D. Cummings et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York 2009.
- Posttranslational Modification of Protein Biopharmaceuticals, G. Walsh (ed.), Wiley VCH, Weinheim 2009.
- Gentechnik, Biotechnik. Grundlagen und Wirkstoffe, 2. Auflage, Dingermann, Winckler, Zündorf, Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2011.
Prerequisites / NoticeRequirements: Basic knowledge in immunology, molecular biology, protein chemistry and analytics. Basic knowledge in pharmacology.
535-0300-00LMolecular Mechanisms of Drug Actions and Targets Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 24.
W1 credit1VV. I. Otto
AbstractOn average one drug per year is withdrawn from the market. Using selected examples of such drug failures, the course aims at analyzing and discussing the present explanations of drug actions as well as the design and predictive power of animal models and clinical trials. In addition, the ethical, societal, and economical expectations in new drugs shall be reflected.
ObjectiveTo develop a critical understanding of the relevance and limitations of the current approaches to explaining and anticipating drug effects. To critically appraise the ethical, societal, economical and political expectations in the development of new drugs.
ContentIn December 2006, Pfizer stopped a large phase III study on the use of Torcetrapib for the prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. 800 million $ in development costs and 21 billion $ in stocks were annihilated overnight. The failure of Torcetrapib has pinpointed the limitations of an extremely reductionist view of atherosclerosis and it's prevention by drug therapy. It has also highlighted what high expectations we have in a safe and wide applicability of drugs and of their economical success.
Torcetrapib is not a single case. In the last 10 years, on average one drug per year was withdrawn from the market due to lack of efficacy, unexpected side effects or toxicity. This clearly shows that the common investigations and the modern understanding of drug actions are often not sufficient to predict the effects a drug will have in large patient populations.
These are the topics of the present course. Using three particularly informative examples of drug failures, the problems encountered and the concepts and informative value of preclinical and clinical studies will be analyzed and discussed. Furthermore, the ethical, societal, economical and political expectations in new drugs shall be reflected.
Lecture notesPrintouts of the slides used for the lectures and literature for reading and discussions will be available online.
LiteratureRecommended reading: John Abramson, Overdo$ed America, Harper Perennial, New York 2008
Prerequisites / NoticeRequirements: basic knowledge in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology. Ability to read and understand scientific publications written in English.
535-0022-00LComputer-Assisted Drug DesignW1 credit1VG. Schneider
AbstractThe lecture series provides an introduction to computer applications in medicinal chemistry. A focus is on molecular representations, property predictions, molecular similarity concepts, virtual screening techniques, and de novo drug design. All theoretical concepts and algorithms presented are illustrated by practical applications and case studies
ObjectiveThe students will learn how computer simulation generates ideas for drug design and development, understand the theoretical principles of property prediction and computer-generated compound generation, and understand possibilities and limitations of computer-assisted drug design in pharmaceutical chemistry. As a result, they are prepared for professional assessment of computer-assisted drug design studies in medicinal chemistry projects.
LiteratureRecommended textbooks:
1) G. Schneider, K.-H. Baringhaus (2008) "Molecular Design - Concepts and Applications", Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, New York.
2) H.-D. Höltje, W. Sippl, D. Rognan, G. Folkers (2008) "Molecular Modeling: Basic Principles and Applications", Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, New York.
3) G. Klebe (2009) "Wirkstoffdesign", Spektrum Akademischer Verlag: Heidelberg.
Prerequisites / NoticeSuccessful participation in this course is required for a research project ("Forschungspraktikum") in the CADD group.
851-0180-00LResearch Ethics Restricted registration - show details
Particularly suitable for students of D-BIOL, D-CHAB, D-HEST
W2 credits2GG. Achermann
AbstractThis course has its focus on the responsible conduct of research (RCR) and the ethical dimensions of the biological and biomedical sciences.
ObjectiveThe main goal of this course is to enhance the student's ability to:
- recognize and identify ethical issues and conflicts,
- analyze and develop well-reasoned responses to the kinds of ethical problems a scientist is likely to encounter.

Additionally, students will become familiar with regulations and ethical guidelines relevant for their research field on the international, governmental, institutional and professional level.

To achieve these objectives, teaching methods will include lectures, discussions, case study work (alone and in groups), moral games, paper work and exercises.
ContentI. Ethics & the Process of Ethical Inquiry
---------------------------------------

Introduction in Ethics and Research Ethics
- What is ethics? What ethics is not...;
- Awareness: what constitutes an ethical question? Distinguishing ethical questions from other kinds of questions; Science & ethics: a comparison;
- The ethics movement in the biological and health sciences;
- What is research ethics and why is it important?
- Values (personal, cultural & ethical) in science & principles for ethical conduct in research;
- Professional codes of conduct: functions and limitations

Ethical approaches in the conduct of research (Normative Ethics)
- Overview over important theories for research ethics: virtue theories, duty-based theories (rights theory, categorical imperative, prima facie duties), consequentialist theories, other theories);
- The plurality of ethical theories and its consequences;
- The concept of dignity

Moral reasoning I: Arguments
- Why arguments? What is a good argument? The structure of (moral) arguments;
- Deductive and inductive arguments; Validity and soundness;
- Assessing moral arguments

Moral reasoning II: Decision-making
- How (not) to approach ethical issues...; Is there a correct method for answering moral questions?
- Models of method in Applied Ethics: a) Top-down approaches; b) the reflective equilibrium; c) a bottom-up approach: casuistry (or reasoning-by-analogy);
- Is there a right answer?


II. Research Ethics / Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
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Integrity in Research & Research Misconduct
- What is "integrity" in scientific research? What is research misconduct (falsification, fabrication, plagiarism - FFP) and questionable research practices (QRP)?
- Factors leading to misconduct; Procedure for responding to allegations of research misconduct;
- The confidant of ETH Zurich

Data Management
- Data collection and recordkeeping; Analysis and selection of data;
- Ownership of data; retention and sharing of data;
- Falsification and fabrication of data

Research involving animals
- The moral status of animals; Ethical approaches to animal experimentation: Animal welfare (Peter Singer) and Animal rights (Tom Regan);
- The 3 R's (replacement, reduction, refinement);
- Ethical assessment of conflicting issues in animal experimentation;
- The dignity of animals in the Swiss constitution;

Research involving human subjects
- History & guidelines (Nuremberg Code; Declaration of Helsinki; Belmont Report; International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects (CIOMS Guidelines); Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (Oviedo Convention);
- Informed consent; confidentiality and anonymity; research risks and benefits; vulnerable subjects;
- Clinical trials;
- Biobanks
- Ethics Committees / Institutional Review Boards (IRB)

Authorship & Peer review
- Criteria for authorship;
- Plagiarism;
- Challenges to openness and freedom in scientific publication;
- Open access
- Peer review

Social responsibility
- What is social responsibility? Social responsibility: whose obligation?
- Public advocacy by researchers
Lecture notesCourse material (handouts, case studies, exercises, surveys and papers) will be available during the lectures and on the course homepage.
LiteratureRecommended literature:

- Bulger R.E., Heitman E. & Reiser S.J. (2002) "The Ethical Dimensions of the Biological and Health Sciences" 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press
- Shamoo A.E. & Resnik D.B. (2003) "Responsible Conduct of Research", New York, Oxford University Press
- "On Being a Scientist. Responsible Conduct in Research (2009)" 3rd ed., Link;
- "Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research" (Link)

Detailed literature lists for the different topics of the course will be provided in the script/handout or on the course work space.
351-0778-00LDiscovering Management
Entry level course in management for BSc, MSc and PHD students at all levels not belonging to D-MTEC. This course can be complemented with Discovering Management (Excercises) 351-0778-01.
W3 credits3GB. Clarysse, M. Ambühl, S. Brusoni, E. Fleisch, G. Grote, V. Hoffmann, P. Schönsleben, G. von Krogh, F. von Wangenheim
AbstractDiscovering Management offers an introduction to the field of business management and entrepreneurship for engineers and natural scientists. The module provides an overview of the principles of management, teaches knowledge about management that is highly complementary to the students' technical knowledge, and provides a basis for advancing the knowledge of the various subjects offered at D-MTEC.
ObjectiveDiscovering Management combines in an innovate format a set of lectures and an advanced business game. The learning model for Discovering Management involves 'learning by doing'. The objective is to introduce the students to the relevant topics of the management literature and give them a good introduction in entrepreneurship topics too. The course is a series of lectures on the topics of strategy, innovation, corporate finance, leadership, design thinking and corporate social responsibility. While the 14 different lectures provide the theoretical and conceptual foundations, the experiential learning outcomes result from the interactive business game. The purpose of the business game is to analyse the innovative needs of a large multinational company and develop a business case for the company to grow. This business case is as relevant to someone exploring innovation within an organisation as it is if you are planning to start your own business. By discovering the key aspects of entrepreneurial management, the purpose of the course is to advance students' understanding of factors driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and company success.
ContentDiscovering Management aims to broaden the students' understanding of the principles of business management, emphasizing the interdependence of various topics in the development and management of a firm. The lectures introduce students not only to topics relevant for managing large corporations, but also touch upon the different aspects of starting up your own venture. The lectures will be presented by the respective area specialists at D-MTEC.
The course broadens the view and understanding of technology by linking it with its commercial applications and with society. The lectures are designed to introduce students to topics related to strategy, corporate innovation, leadership, corporate and entrepreneurial finance, value chain analysis, corporate social responsibility, and business model innovation. Practical examples from industry experts will stimulate the students to critically assess these issues. Creative skills will be trained by the business game exercise, a participant-centered learning activity, which provides students with the opportunity to place themselves in the role of Chief Innovation Officer of a large multinational company. As they learn more about the specific case and identify the challenge they are faced with, the students will have to develop an innovative business case for this multinational corporation. Doing so, this exercise will provide an insight into the context of managerial problem-solving and corporate innovation, and enhance the students' appreciation for the complex tasks companies and managers deal with. The business game presents a realistic model of a company and provides a valuable learning platform to integrate the increasingly important development of the skills and competences required to identify entrepreneurial opportunities, analyse the future business environment and successfully respond to it by taking systematic decisions, e.g. critical assessment of technological possibilities.
Prerequisites / NoticeDiscovering Management is designed to suit the needs and expectations of Bachelor students at all levels as well as Master and PhD students not belonging to D-MTEC. By providing an overview of Business Management, this course is an ideal enrichment of the standard curriculum at ETH Zurich.
No prior knowledge of business or economics is required to successfully complete this course.
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