HMX Pro Pharmacology
Drug Delivery: Approaches and Technologies for Delivering Therapeutics
Understand advances in drug delivery systems – and the implications for patient care.
The range of systems and approaches that can be used to deliver therapeutics is growing and advancing at an incredible rate, so learning about the advances in drug delivery has important implications for anyone working in health care and related sectors.
This course delves into the rapidly advancing field of drug delivery, exploring the latest drug delivery systems and approaches for treating and preventing diseases. It covers several key aspects of drug delivery, including different systems for delivering therapeutics to achieve local and systemic effects, methods for modifying drugs, and materials and technologies that enhance the delivery of drugs to their target sites.
This advanced course offers a unique way for professionals to learn from leading Harvard Medical School faculty and experts in the field about the processes of drug discovery. It is ideally suited for those who have completed the introductory pharmacology course, or for professionals who have a foundational understanding of drug delivery approaches and would like to learn more about innovations in the field.
Course Topics
Overview of Drug Delivery
- What is Drug Delivery?
- The Promise of Drug Delivery
Drug Delivery Systems
- Overview of Drug Delivery Systems
- Local Administration for Systemic Effect
- Local Administration for Local Effect
- Systemic Administration for Systemic Effect
- Systemic Administration for Local Effect
- Clinical Linkage: Closed Loop Systems
Selected Approaches to Drug Delivery
- Overview of Drug Delivery Approaches
- Enhancing Permeation
- Modifying Drugs by Attachment to Polymers
- Manipulating Existing Drug Transport Mechanisms
- Utilizing Vectors to Deliver Drugs
- Remote Triggering
- Clinical Linkage: Recent Advances in Drug Delivery Systems
Materials and Systems
- Overview of Materials and Systems
- Polymeric Materials
- Non-polymeric Materials
- Triggerable Materials
- Microparticles vs. Nanoparticles
- Hydrogels
- Biocompatibility
- Clinical Linkage: Developing New Drug Delivery Systems
Wrap-up
- The Future of Drug Delivery
Download the Drug Delivery course outline
Course Instructors
Kate McDonnell-Dowling, PhD
Lecturer in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School
Associate Director of Curriculum, HMX
Daniel Kohane, MD, PhD
Professor of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School
Pediatric Critical Care Physician, Boston Children’s Hospital
Philip Cole, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine and Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School Senior Investigator, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
More Information
Frequently asked questions
Who should take this course?
This course is designed for professionals in health care, life sciences, and related industries who want to have a better understanding of drug delivery for their work.
You should participate in this course if you are:
- A research professional looking to advance your expertise in contemporary drug delivery systems and approaches.
- A professional in a related sector who would like to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in drug delivery technologies and methodologies.
- Experienced in essential drug delivery concepts and want to improve your knowledge and understanding of cutting-edge systems and innovative approaches.
What do participants need to know to succeed in this course?
We recommend basic knowledge of chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as an understanding of key pharmacology concepts. If you need further background in pharmacology, we also offer an introductory course, HMX Pro Pharmacology – Essentials.
Not sure? Take this short quiz to gauge your knowledge of pharmacology concepts.
What is the time commitment?
Most people can expect to spend around 15–20 hours total, but this depends on your baseline knowledge, how carefully you take notes, and how seriously you take the assessments. New course material is released periodically, and remains available until the course period ends, so participants can work at their own pace. There is a final exam at the end of each course that can be taken any time during the final exam period.
Can participants earn certificates from Harvard Medical School?
There are two certification levels, based on participant scores:
- Certificate of Achievement
- Certificate of Completion