The course provides: An appreciation of how new drugs are developed, from their conception in the laboratory to their application, testing and subsequent industrial production; an overview of the chemistry pertinent to drug design, as practised in the pharmaceutical industry and in academia; training in topics which constitute the ‘holy grail’ of drug design and potential therapies not yet established commercially; a high level of research competence; experience through training in relevant aspects of laboratory work, including COSHH and safety.