UNIT 1: Foundations of Clinical Research
This unit introduces the fundamental concepts of clinical research, explaining its purpose, scope, and role in modern healthcare. It builds a strong conceptual base by linking scientific discovery, ethical principles, and real-world clinical application in human subjects.
Definition
Drug discovery is the process of identifying new chemical or biological substances that can be developed into medicines to affect specific targets in the body. It involves understanding a disease, finding a molecule that can influence the biological pathway causing it, and optimizing that molecule to ensure it is safe and effective.
Before human testing, potential drug candidates undergo laboratory and animal studies to assess biological activity and safety. Only molecules demonstrating acceptable safety profiles and scientific rationale progress to human clinical research.
There are two types in drug discovery
Ligand Based Drug Discovery
Definition
Ligand‑based drug discovery is an approach used when the 3D structure of the biological target is unknown; instead, known ligands or inhibitors that bind to the target are analyzed to design new drug molecules using methods such as SAR, QSAR, and pharmacophore modeling.
Target Based Drug Discovery
Definition
Target-based drug discovery begins with identification and validation of a specific biological target directly linked to disease pathology. It can be done by using structural biology tools like X‑ray, NMR, cryo‑EM. Compounds are designed or screened specifically to interact with that target.
Complete the preclinical and In vitro, Ex vivo and In vivo from the above link.
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