Fundamentals of intellectual property and patent law encountered by biomedical scientists, including issues of prevention, patent prosecution, and enforcement of patents in a litigation setting. Course seeks to introduce students to the US patent system, trade secret and patented inventions, contractual protections in biomedical sciences, principles of obviousness, the purpose and elements of subject matter requirement, the enablement requirement, and the best mode requirement. Prepare students to protect possible future patents through proper documentation and security during development. Prepare students for litigation and presenting testimony.

Offered online only in spring semester. No pre-requisites. Open to non-MSU and Lifelong Education students, as well as Masters in Integrative Pharmacology students. (2 credits)

Evaluation of current leadership methods. Models of leadership. Practice of specific skills and development of a plan to increase their influence and extend learning to the workplace. Course provides students with insight into their current leadership skills and areas needing improvement through 360 degree evaluation and formal temperament assessment. Students are introduced to research-based models of effective supervision practices, guiding group development, and strategic-planning. Other topics include situational leadership, virtual teams, intercultural teams, leading change & managing transitions -- skills the developing manager can apply anywhere.

Offered online only in summer and fall semesters. No pre-requisites. Open to non-MSU and Lifelong Education students, as well as Masters in Integrative Pharmacology students. (2 credits)

Overview of formal project management culture, principles, knowledge areas, and terminology. Specific tools and techniques including work breakdown structure, earned value analysis, risk management, and quality control for managing scientific research. Students are introduced to work planning; estimating, assigning & integrative resources; risk management and quality management. Course seeks to enable the immediate practice of project management principles increasingly used in pharmaceutical industries and biomedical research. Although of value to managers in particular, course will enable all students to participate more effectively on project teams and to better communicate project progress with colleagues, project sponsors, and industry executives. A sound introduction for those seeking CAPM or PMP certification.

Offered online only in spring. No pre-requisites. Open to non-MSU and Lifelong Education students, as well as Masters in Integrative Pharmacology students. (2 credits)

Project management standards and best practices in drug development process, including clinical trials. Introduces student to standard project management processes, tools and techniques as applied specifically to the drug development and clinical testing processes. Build capacity to participate in and lead projects at a higher level.

Topics: Introduction/review of key concepts, terminology and resources. Stage gate process for drug development. Drug discovery & pre-clinical issues: Target product profile for candidates. Project management in clinical trials. Global clinical trials: procurement, country-specifics, & alliances. Risk management in commercial biomedical research. Decision-making and problem-solving for drug development projects. Managing resources through people skills. Portfolio management for prioritizing biotech & and life sciences. Managing projects at the enterprise level.

Offered online in fall. No pre-requisites. Open to non-MSU and Lifelong Education students, as well as Masters in Integrative Pharmacology students. (3 credits)

Introduce interpersonal and organizational communication models to build students' skills in preventing & troubleshooting communication breakdowns. Increase effectiveness of students’ written communications for SOPs, grant applications, reports, and research publications. Improve students’ ability to communicate technical information to large groups, the media, and non-scientists.

This course is currently in production in association with the College of Communications Arts & Sciences. Major topics planned include: Principles of verbal, non-verbal, and written communications. Examples and exercises in SOPs, GLP documentation, trade publications. Grant writing & reports-NIH and other funding sources; examples & practice. Academic & peer-reviewed publications - citation tools, submission process. Non-scientist audiences such as mass media outlets & company business units. Making meetings work- preparation, group dynamics, conflict resolution. Scientific collaboration across agencies - issues & tools for sharing. Public presentation and impromptu speech practice.

Course will by delivered primarily online with some on-campus meetings during the week of PHM 832 Labs course on-campus experience. No pre-requisites. Open to non-MSU and Lifelong Education students, as well as Masters in Integrative Pharmacology students. (2 credits)