Glencoe Physical Science

Unit 6: Interactions of Matter

Pharmaceutical research

Project Type: Career

Medicines are used to improve and save people's lives every day. Have you ever thought about how new medicines are developed?

Task:
Visit the web sites below to learn more about advances in the research and use of medicines. Learn about what the researchers do to develop new medicines and to make sure they are safe. Come up with a list of 15–20 questions you might like to ask a pharmaceutical researcher. You may want to ask about education and training or about new products that have been developed.

Process:
Ask a pharmaceutical researcher your questions in a personal interview. Be sure to take notes of the answers. Share your results with your class. A flow-chart or concept map can be used to present the information you have obtained.

Pharmaceutical research news stories
http://www.phrma.org/

Careers in pharmacy
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/2007_06_15/caredit_a0700084/(parent)/158

Pharmaceutical careers in the USA
http://www.medical-colleges.net/pharmaceutical4.htm

Discovering new medicines
http://www.innovation.org/

Clinical trials
http://innovation.org/index.cfm/ToolsandResources/Clinical_Trials_Resources

Medicines to treat cancer
http://innovation.org/index.cfm/FutureOfInnovation/NewMedicinesinDevelopment/Cancer

Saving and improving lives
http://innovation.org/index.cfm/ImpactofInnovation/Saving_&_Improving_Lives