Program Objectives:

• Explore the diverse range of viruses and their impact on human health.
• Gain insights into the drug discovery process for antiviral therapies.
• Understand the mechanisms of action of different antiviral drugs.
• Analyze the challenges associated with antiviral drug resistance.
• Discuss the latest innovations in antiviral drug development, including gene editing and RNA interference

What you will learn?

Module 1: Foundations and Innovations
Week 1: Introduction to Viral Diseases

• Introduction to basic virology, including virus structure and function.
• Overview of viral pathogenesis and its impact on human health.
• Readings on the historical impact of viral outbreaks globally.

Week 2: Target Identification in Antiviral Research

• Exploration of methodologies for identifying viral targets essential for replication and infection.
• Overview of the role of target identification in antiviral drug development.
• Interactive simulations that demonstrate the target identification process.

Week 3: Antiviral Drug Design Principles

• Principles of drug design and the application of AI and machine learning in developing antivirals.
• Case studies of successful antiviral drugs and their mechanisms of action.
• Overview of molecular modeling and drug docking techniques.

Week 4: Screening and Optimization

• Introduction to high-throughput screening methods used in antiviral research.
• Techniques for optimizing drug candidates through iterative testing.
• Virtual lab experiences on different screening methodologies and hit optimization.

Module 2: Development and Testing
Week 5: Preclinical Development

• Key stages in antiviral drug development before clinical trials begin.
• Importance of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in preclinical testing.
• Interactive timeline activities outlining the drug development process.

Week 6: Clinical Trial Design for Antiviral Drugs

• Elements of designing effective and ethical clinical trials for antiviral therapies.
• Simulation of clinical trial phases and design considerations.
• Discussion on adaptive trial designs and their benefits in antiviral research.

Week 7: Ethical Considerations in Drug Development

• Ethical issues in the development and testing of antiviral drugs.
• Scenario analysis and discussion forums on ethical dilemmas in clinical research.
• Overview of informed consent and its importance in clinical trials.

Week 8: Regulatory Affairs in Antiviral Drug Approval

• Understanding the regulatory pathway for antiviral drug approval.
• Mock exercises on preparing submissions for regulatory review.
• Study of global differences in drug approval processes and how they impact drug launch.

Month 3: Advanced Topics and Future Directions
Week 9: Resistance and Challenges

• Mechanisms behind antiviral resistance and the implications for treatment strategies.
• Research tasks focused on current resistance scenarios and potential solutions.
• Discussion of surveillance and monitoring strategies for resistance management.

Week 10: Vaccines vs. Therapeutics

• Comparative analysis of vaccines and therapeutics in managing viral diseases.
• Group projects to develop a proposal focusing on either vaccine or therapeutic development.
• Strategic integration of vaccines and therapeutics in public health.

Week 11: Emerging Technologies in Antiviral Therapies

• Overview of cutting-edge technologies such as CRISPR and nanoparticle delivery systems in antiviral therapy.
• Future scenario planning exercises for the next generation of antiviral treatments.
• Discussion of the potential of these technologies to revolutionize antiviral therapies.

Week 12: Capstone Project

• Guidelines for developing innovative antiviral treatments as a capstone project.
• Resources and support provided for project development.
• Presentation and critique sessions to evaluate the effectiveness and innovation of the projects.