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PM3IPD1-Innovation and Product Development
Module Provider: Pharmacy
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4
Module Convenor: Miss Sarah Needs
Email: s.h.needs@reading.ac.uk
Type of module:
Summary module description:
PM3IPD1 gives students an understanding of the innovation process “from science to person”, introducing the core topics of scientific innovation and product development (focussed on medicines, medical devices and cosmetics), whilst developing core skills that link science to industry. Students will learn to identify critical business development challenges that need to be addressed for science to benefit society.
Thispart 3 module will introduce students to core topics surrounding the societal and industrial challenge of translating science into real-world public benefit in the form of innovative products. The taught content covers the full range of innovation skills and knowledge, including a range of critical business development areas, alongside details of the product development pathway. Innovation topics include customer and market insight, intellectual property, finance, business development, and finally leadership. Students will also follow the lifecycle of a product launch, becoming aware of how to effectively plan a product launch. This will be applied to a broad spectrum of products arising from a range of chemical and life sciences including pharmacology and pharmaceutical science; chemistry and cosmetic chemistry; biomedical science and bioengineering. Diverse case studies of real products and innovations, plus product concepts, will be explored by students. These will include pharmaceuticals, medical devices, chemical industry and cosmetic products, to allow students to connect with their respective degree programmes.
No prior knowledge of innovation is required, but we expect students to bring their expertise in their respective degree subject to the module. Interprofessional communication skills are vital for innovation, and students from different backgrounds will benefit from studying together. For example, pharmacology students will benefit from gaining an understanding of chemical formulation and bioengineering. Cosmetic chemistry students will get a chance to understand the connection between consumer products and healthcare/pharmaceuticals. Bioscience students will gain insight into how fundamental biomedical science can translate into products that benefit society. A key requirement is applying science and engineering principles to innovation and product development.
The students will learn by doing, gaining transferrable innovation skills. The module thus teaches the core skills and knowledge to navigate the path “from science to person”.
Aims:
- To give students an understanding of the process of scientific innovation, such that they can effectively plan product development from science through to patients and customers.
- To give students an understanding of the lifecycle of a product from idea through development to launch, such that they can effectively plan a launch and know the core issues that need to be addressed.
- To distinguish the detailed product development path for an individual product, from the broader innovation process
- To equip students with relevant skills through hands-on practice of vital innovation and product development activities, including project management, product-focussed research, financial planning, and market assessment.
Assessable learning outcomes:
Be able to present verbally and in writing elements from an outline business plan to develop an innovative product, describing the pathway from science through to customer/patient
- Be aware of how to define a market and research customer requirements
- Be able to critically assess a product development plan, and outline how to design a product to a brief
- Recognise the importance of rigorous product testing, and understand the distinction between experimental prototypes and a manufactured product
- Recognise regulatory constraints, and related processes to consider when manufacturing a new product
- Identify and describe the key business development elements surrounding the delivery of an innovative product, including intellectual property, finance and management concepts
- Critically analyse a product launch and monitor the market
- Identify the major activities required to translate scientific progress into real-world benefits
Additional outcomes:
In addition to the assessed outcomes this module students will develop teamworking and project management skills through working in multidisciplinary groups.
Outline content:
The module will comprise two interlinked learning streams. A “product development” stream will be developed over the full term, taking students through the path from initial brief through to product launch. Alongside this an “innovation” stream will provide an overview of the broader scope of innovation of science-derived products covering the major areas of business development needed alongside the product being developed.
A: Product development stream
This learning stream will cover the following stages, divided amongst 5 biweekly sessions.
- Mapping steps to take a new product from science through to delivery
- Technical development (formulation, manufacturing, packaging and performance testing)
- Clinical need analysis and problem statements
- Regulatory and safety (e.g. microbiological testing, GMP)
- Marketing, packaging, production, and the supply chain
- Product launch & “in market” complications
B: Innovation stream:
In parallel, the innovation learning stream will incorporate the broader elements that feed into product development. It will also include 5 biweekly sessions (in alternative weeks to A) that will cover topics including:
Product development (as above)
- Customers. Marketunderstanding
- Intellectual property
- Finance
- Business development including partnering and competitor analysis
- Leadership, project and people management
Alongside taught content in the above topics, core skills will be developed including independent research, presentation skills (written and verbal) and project management. These will be developed by tasks and project work, including case study and developing new product concepts, completed individually and in groups.
Global context:
This module allows students with a wide range of different scientific backgrounds to understand the connection between science and engineering, and innovation of new products. It will help final year students to bridge their degree knowledge towards business and the industrial workplace, as well as developing and assessing skills that may be sought from future employers.
Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module will encourage students to study new topics rapidly and independently, in order to cover the breadth of the topic.
Significant parts of the module will incorporate problem-based and team-based learning and students will complete focussed tasks around small projects and case studies individually and in groups. By conducting these tasks and projects, students will gain understanding of new topics and at the same time develop essential innovation and product develo pment skills.
A core series of 1 hour weekly lectures will introduce each topic or set of topics throughout the term, starting from first principles in the first week, all the way through to covering the full set of topics by the end of spring term.
Each week, a 2 hour workshop session will be used with flipped classroom and group tasks to allow the students to work together under supervision, plan study, ask questions and practice presentations.
A major focus for teamwork, workshops, and individual study is to produce presentations for an end of module “Pitchfest” session that will bring the whole class together to celebrate and reflect through business plan and product development pathway presentations.
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
| Lectures | 10 | ||
| Seminars | 10 | ||
| Project Supervision | 10 | ||
| Guided independent study: | |||
| Wider reading (independent) | 40 | ||
| Wider reading (directed) | 20 | ||
| Peer assisted learning | 10 | ||
| Preparation for presentations | 20 | ||
| Preparation for seminars | 20 | ||
| Group study tasks | 20 | ||
| Carry-out research project | 20 | ||
| Reflection | 20 | ||
| Total hours by term | 0 | 200 | 0 |
| Total hours for module | 200 |
| Method | Percentage |
| Portfolio | 75 |
| Oral assessment and presentation | 25 |
Summative assessment- Examinations:
Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
The summative assessment coursework comprises two connected elements:
1. Portfolio (75%)
2. Presentation (25%)
- Portfolio assessment (individual) submitted at end of module (75%)
- Students will develop a portfolio including multiple tasks and evidence, with regular points for review and incorporating formative feedback and learning reflection.
- Examples of work to be incorporated includes group and individual task-based study, such as case studies and project work. Students in groups and teams will present a business plan orally and submit the elements of a written business plan that they developed. These activities will provide input to the portfolio including feedback, reflective learning statements and example work that will be assessed through the portfolio. This allows the portfolio to assess the breadth of material and learning outcomes from the module.
- Where possible, the portfolio is expected to include items that simulate workplace outputs (e.g. consultant reports) and elements found in a job application (e.g. relevant experience section of a cover letter).
- Presentation(individual) (25%)
- To complement the written portfolio, all students will give a presentation, that will be assessed individually by staff. Students will be assessed on the content of their presentations against important learning outcomes, focussed on how they present their findings around certain example products (case studies and new product concepts) and assessing how this demonstrates their understanding of the innovation and product development process, alongside their presentation skills. The format of the presentation will be flexible enough to permit a range of appropriate formats, for example allowing video presentations recorded before the summative assessment point, as an alternative to live in-person presentations, if preferred by individual students.
Formative assessment methods:
Formative feedback will be given regularly during presentations given by students during workshops, both from staff and peers.
Several portfolio activities and items will be prepared to set deadlines and formative feedback provided on these tasks during the weekly progress workshops.
Students will be expected to provide formative feedback throughout the term to each other through peer feedback, and reflect on their own development and understanding through recording what they learned from the formative feedback that they receive.
Penalties for late submission:
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:
- where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.
Assessment requirements for a pass:
Students must obtain and overall module mark of 40%.
Reassessment arrangements:
Reassessment will be held in August and will include re-assessment of a revised written portfolio worth 75% and a resit presentation task worth 25%.
Final year students are not eligible to resit this module unless they have failed their degree programme overall.
Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:
Last updated: 15 January 2024
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.