State of being not likely to be in danger, risk or injury.

The degree to which something is successful.

An undesirable effect of a medicine or treatment.

A treatment or substance designed to have no therapeutic value.

Inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group, especially in a way considered to be unfair.

Development of new medicines

Combined science

Pupils learned about human and plant defences against pathogens, the role of white blood cells in the human immune system, and the use of vaccination to protect against communicable diseases.

This unit covers vaccines, medicines, and monoclonal antibodies for disease prevention and treatment. It explains aseptic techniques, medicine development, and antibody uses. The focus is on ethical considerations, risk evaluation, and societal impacts of scientific advances.

Medicines and new treatments for disease

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

True or false? Plants can be a source of new medicines. 

The drugs are tested using computer models and skin cells grown from stem cells.

The drugs are tested on a small number of healthy individuals.

The drugs are tested on people with the illness.

Put the stages of drug trialing in the correct order.

The highest amount of a drug that can be taken.

The least amount of a drug that can be taken. 

The average amount of a drug taken by patients.

The amount of a drug to take to be effective but minimise harm.

A treatment that appears to be real but has no therapeutic benefit is called a {{}}.

The doctor knows who has taken the drug and who has taken the placebo.

The patient knows if they have taken the drug or the placebo.

The doctor doesn't know who has taken the drug and who has taken the placebo.

The patient doesn't know if they have taken the drug or the placebo.

Which of the following are true of a blind trial?

to reduce bias from the doctor and the patient

to ensure nobody knows how many people are involved in the trial

to establish effectiveness in computer models

Sam: "Drugs are tablets that have a positive effect on the body."

Andeep: "Drugs are illegal substances that have an effect on the body."

Sofia: "Drugs are chemicals that have an effect on the body."

Lucas: "Vaccinations are drugs that help protect us from disease."

True or false? All diseases are caused by pathogens.

Unwanted effects from drugs are called ...

Cells that can develop into other types of cell are called {{}}.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Development of new medicines

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.