New Master of Science Program is Leading Transformational Change in Drug Discovery and Drug Development

The school’s innovative new Master of Science (MS) graduate degree program in the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence and Computational Drug Discovery and Development (AICD3) — the first of its kind in the United States — welcomed its inaugural cohort in fall 2024.

The new degree program is training the next generation of scientists to apply computer science, data science, statistical analysis, machine learning, and other data-driven methods to bolster the discovery and development of new drugs and therapies for diseases that desperately need a cure.

Cindy Chew

Left to right: AICD3 learners Isaac Yeoh and Youssef Abo-Dahab.

On an October morning at UCSF’s Mission Bay campus, students pored over their open laptops in small groups as their instructor guided them through a programming exercise widely used in drug discovery.

“With a background in mathematics and data science, I’ve always been drawn to building algorithms and models,” said learner Isaac Yeoh. “However, as I delved deeper into the vastness of the field, I realized the need to specialize. I’m especially excited to learn about pharmacology and how to integrate it with machine learning and AI.”

From AI foundations to real-world settings

Students are learning not only about different computational tools but also about sources for the storage, management, analysis, and modeling of drugs. Hands-on workshops enable students to apply different computational programs used for designing novel drugs, as well as systematically assessing potential lead candidates and developing digital repositories for studying chemical interactions.

Cindy Chew

Left to right: Su Oner and Hanson Hoang collaborate in class.

In addition to the coursework, the students will engage in a six-month capstone project in which they will apply their learning to real-world drug discovery and drug development projects in academic research labs and in industry settings. The program culminates with the students’ presentations of their projects.

“The program goes beyond traditional learning; it pushes us to think critically and creatively about how AI can solve complex, real-world health care challenges,” said MS AICD3 learner Su Oner, who completed a BA in cognitive science at the University of California, Berkeley, before coming to UCSF’s School of Pharmacy. “The resources and mentorship not only from faculty but also industry leaders are unmatched. The program’s emphasis on both technical mastery and real-world impact makes it an exceptional platform for anyone looking to be at the forefront of AI-driven health care innovation.”

Guest lecturers represent some of the biggest names in industry, including Ujjwal Ratan, who has authored books on machine learning and health care using Amazon Web Services, and Rich Bonneau, who is vice president of machine learning for drug discovery at Genentech.

"The students are learning foundational building blocks for applying AI and machine learning to real-world settings in industry — and they are learning it from the people who run these services," said AICD3 program director and Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences (BTS) faculty member Joanne Chun, PharmD, PhD, who also directs postgraduate education programs. “People in industry already recognize the talent and training at UCSF, but we have to take it a step further to create a pipeline — a bridge — between academia and industry.”

The MS in AICD3, which is also the first master’s program in the School of Pharmacy, is administered by BTS, a joint department of the UCSF Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, and is offered by the Graduate Division.

Interdisciplinary training, in-demand new skills

The new program reflects the interdisciplinary training that is a hallmark of UCSF’s approach to research, with in-demand, new skills informing the range of roles that can be pursued by PharmDs.

Cindy Chew

AICD3 learners at Mission Bay.

“The UC system is already using computational tools, and we have so many experts throughout the entire spectrum of drug development and drug discovery,” said Chun. “Now we have an amazing curriculum, from learning how to program in Python and R to understanding and implementing algorithms and deep learning.”

The AICD3 program is guided by an industry advisory board that includes partnerships with marquee companies like Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, and Amgen. In addition to teaching, the partners will be helping with financial support and securing internships and mentorships to support UCSF’s mission of training the next generation in the health sciences.

The new program is open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree, and Chun says it will be especially beneficial to PharmD grads because of their foundational knowledge in pharmacology. AICD3 synergizes the school’s mission of improving basic understanding of the mechanisms of disease while serving the community at large through educational and service programs.

More

• School introduces new Master of Science program in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Drug Discovery and Development
• MS Degree Program in AICD3