Which tools and frameworks will I learn to use?

You’ll explore tools including Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, RDKit, DeepChem, Biopython, Hugging Face Transformers, KNIME, Orange Data Mining, MLflow, Databricks, and clinical dashboard platforms.

What kinds of projects will I work on?

You’ll work on projects such as AI-assisted drug repurposing, patient risk stratification, clinical trial optimization, pharmacovigilance signal detection, and a capstone AI-powered pharma solution.

How is AI transforming drug discovery compared to traditional methods?

AI enables researchers to analyze molecular structures, predict drug-target interactions, and identify repurposing candidates at a speed and scale that traditional methods cannot match.

Can the skills from this course be applied to my current role immediately?

Yes. The course is structured around practical application, equipping you with tools and frameworks you can use directly in pharmaceutical research, clinical operations, or healthcare analytics.

Is this course relevant for clinical or non-technical healthcare professionals?

Absolutely. The course is designed for both technical and non-technical learners, with guided exercises and no-code tools that make AI applications accessible across roles.

Does the course cover precision medicine and genomics?

Yes. You’ll explore biomarker discovery, personalized treatment strategies, and AI-assisted genomic analysis using platforms like CBioPortal to understand patient-specific insights.

Does the course address ethical and regulatory considerations?

Yes. You’ll study ethical AI governance, bias in predictive models, regulatory compliance frameworks, and how to evaluate AI outputs responsibly in pharma contexts.

How does this course prepare me for roles in AI-driven pharma or healthcare?

You’ll develop specialized skills that align with roles such as AI Pharma Data Scientist, Clinical AI Specialist, Drug Discovery ML Engineer, and Pharma AI Product Manager.

What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

AI in Healthcare & Drug Discovery

Grow your skills with Coursera Plus for $239/year (usually $399). Save now.

AI in Healthcare & Drug Discovery

Instructor: AI CERTs Team

Included with

Learn more

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

AI Across the Pharma Value Chain: Understand how AI and ML are applied from drugs to clinical trials, post-market surveillance, and patient outcomes.
Data-Driven Drug Development: Learn to analyze clinical, genomic, and real-world evidence data using AI support decision-making and drug development.
Predictive Modeling & Patient Stratification: Build models for treatment outcomes and optimizing clinical trial design and participant recruitment.
Regulation & Responsible AI: Explore ethical and compliance considerations to ensure trustworthy and accountable AI use in pharma and healthcare.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 8 modules in this course

AI in Healthcare & Drug Discovery is a practical course designed to help learners understand, apply, and operationalize AI tools across the pharmaceutical and healthcare landscape. As life sciences organizations increasingly adopt AI-driven research, professionals who can bridge data science and drug development are becoming essential across the industry.

In this course, you’ll explore the core principles of AI in pharma and healthcare, including how machine learning accelerates drug discovery, how predictive models support clinical trial design, and how genomic data enables precision medicine. You’ll learn how to analyze real-world evidence, extract insights from clinical texts, and apply AI responsibly within regulatory frameworks. Through guided exercises and hands-on projects, you’ll gain practical experience using industry tools such as Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy, SQL, Jupyter Notebooks, MLflow, Databricks, RDKit, DeepChem, Biopython, Hugging Face Transformers for Biomedical NLP, spaCy, Apache Spark for Healthcare Data, and Power BI and Tableau for Clinical Dashboards. You’ll also work with specialized platforms, including Orange Data Mining, KNIME, cBioPortal, EpiGraphDB, LitVar 2.0, and Airtable for AI project management. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to design and evaluate AI-driven drug discovery pipelines, optimize clinical trials using intelligent analytics, and apply ethical AI governance frameworks to deliver real impact in pharmaceutical and life sciences environments.

This module covers a quick summary of what the certification is going to cover from start to finish. Here is the brief about the structure of the overall certification: Each of our certifications follows a consistent, multimodal structure to provide a flexible learning experience. The content is available across four formats: eBooks: In-depth written material for focused learning. Audiobooks: Audio version of the eBook, perfect for learning on the go. Podcasts: Engaging audio content to reinforce key concepts. Videos: Modular video chunks, each covering a specific topic. The names of the eBooks, Audiobooks, and Podcasts are the same, ensuring you can seamlessly switch between formats without losing track of the content. Videos are divided into bite-sized modules for easier consumption, and all content across these mediums is consistent, so no matter which format you choose, the information remains the same. This gives you the freedom to learn in the way that works best for you.

What's included

9 videos1 reading1 assignment2 plugins

9 videos Total 88 minutes

Audiobook: Module 01: Course Introduction 6 minutes
Module 01: Course Introduction 6 minutes
Audiobook: Module 01: AI Foundations for Pharma 40 minutes
Podcast: Module 01: AI Foundations for Pharma 13 minutes
1.1 AI and Machine Learning Basics) 7 minutes
1.2 AI Applications Specific to Pharmaceutical Contexts 5 minutes
1.3 AI Algorithms and Models 6 minutes
1.4 Predictive Modeling for Pharmacokinetics and Drug Interactions 3 minutes
1.5 Predictive Modeling for Adverse Drug and Drug-Drug Reactions 3 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Hands On 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 1 30 minutes

2 plugins Total 30 minutes

Ebook: Module 01: AI Foundations for Pharma 15 minutes
Activity: Tab 15 minutes

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 assignment2 plugins

7 videos Total 126 minutes

Audiobook: Module 02: AI in Drug Discovery and Development 82 minutes
Podcast: Module 02: AI in Drug Discovery and Development 14 minutes
2.1 Analysis of Molecular Docking, QSAR, and Virtual Screening 8 minutes
2.2 AI in Therapeutic Molecule Design 9 minutes
2.3 AI Approaches to Drug Repurposing 7 minutes
2.4 Case Analysis: Drug Repurposing During Pandemics 3 minutes
2.5 AI-Driven Drug Repurposing for COVID-19 3 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Hands On 1 10 minutes
Hands On 2 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 2 30 minutes

2 plugins Total 30 minutes

Ebook: Module 02: AI in Drug Discovery and Development 15 minutes
Activity: Multiple choice 15 minutes

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 assignment2 plugins

7 videos Total 122 minutes

Audiobook: Module 03: Clinical Trials Optimization with AI 94 minutes
Podcast: Module 03: Clinical Trials Optimization with AI 11 minutes
3.1 Predictive Analytics for Patient Recruitment and Retention 3 minutes
3.2 Strategies for Targeted Patient Outreach Using Machine Learning 5 minutes
3.3 AI-Driven Clinical Data Collection, Quality Assurance, and Monitoring 4 minutes
3.4 Real-Time Predictive Analytics to Improve Trial Outcomes 4 minutes
3.5 Use Case: Pfizer’s AI-Driven Analytics for Optimizing Clinical Trials 2 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Hands On 1 10 minutes
Hands On 2 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 3 30 minutes

2 plugins Total 30 minutes

Ebook: Module 03: Clinical Trials Optimization with AI 15 minutes
Activity: Accordion 15 minutes

What's included

7 videos1 reading1 assignment2 plugins

7 videos Total 114 minutes

Audiobook: Module 04: Precision Medicine and Genomics 66 minutes
Podcast: Module 04: Precision Medicine and Genomics 13 minutes
4.1 AI-Driven Personalization Through Genomic, Epigenetic, and Clinical Data 8 minutes
4.2 AI in Personalized Treatment 8 minutes
4.3 AI Methods for Identifying and Validating Biomarkers 7 minutes
4.4 Real-World Applications of Biomarkers in Therapeutic Decisions 7 minutes
4.5 Case Study: AI-Assisted Biomarker Discovery and Validation in Cancer Treatments 5 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Hands On 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 4 30 minutes

2 plugins Total 30 minutes

Ebook: Module 04: Precision Medicine and Genomics 15 minutes
Activity: Problem Statement 15 minutes

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 assignment2 plugins

7 videos Total 116 minutes

Audiobook: Module 05: Regulatory and Ethical AI in Pharma 80 minutes
Podcast: Module 05: Regulatory and Ethical AI in Pharma 15 minutes
5.1 Bias Mitigation, Transparency Practices, and Patient Privacy 5 minutes
5.2 Development of Ethical Frameworks for AI Governance 3 minutes
5.3 FDA, EMA, and WHO Regulatory Guidance for AI Applications 4 minutes
5.4 Practical Approaches to Regulatory Submissions for AI-Enabled Pharma Products 4 minutes
5.5 Case Study: Ethical and Regulatory Challenges in AI-Driven Pharma Initiatives 4 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Hands On 1 10 minutes
Hands On 2 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 5 30 minutes

2 plugins Total 30 minutes

Ebook: Module 05: Regulatory and Ethical AI in Pharma 15 minutes
Activity: Multiple select 15 minutes

What's included

5 videos1 reading1 assignment2 plugins

5 videos Total 90 minutes

Audiobook: Module 06: Implementing AI in Pharma Projects 61 minutes
Podcast: Module 06: Implementing AI in Pharma Projects 14 minutes
6.1 From Initiation to Deployment: AI in Pharma 5 minutes
6.2 Stakeholder Management, Project Timelines, and Deliverables 6 minutes
6.3 Evaluating AI Tools and ROI 5 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Hands On 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 6 30 minutes

2 plugins Total 30 minutes

Ebook: Module 06: Implementing AI in Pharma Projects 15 minutes
Activity: Tab 15 minutes

What's included

7 videos1 reading1 assignment2 plugins

7 videos Total 108 minutes

Audiobook: Module 07: Future Trends and Sustainability in Pharma AI 65 minutes
Podcast: Module 07: Future Trends and Sustainability in Pharma AI 15 minutes
7.1 Quantum Computing and Blockchain in Pharma 9 minutes
7.2 Emerging AI Trends Transforming Pharmaceuticals 5 minutes
7.3 Sustainable Pharmaceutical Operations with AI 6 minutes
7.4 Examples of AI-Driven Ethics and Optimization in Healthcare 4 minutes
7.5 Sustainability Initiatives Driven by AI in Pharmaceutical Industry Leaders 4 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Hands On 7 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 7 30 minutes

2 plugins Total 30 minutes

Ebook: Module 07: Future Trends and Sustainability in Pharma AI 15 minutes
Activity: Case study 15 minutes

What's included

4 videos1 assignment1 plugin

Instructor

AI CERTs Team

AI CERTs

54 Courses 24,987 learners

Offered by

AI CERTs

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

No. The course begins with foundational AI and pharmaceutical concepts, making it accessible to learners from both technical and life sciences backgrounds.

Yes. You’ll work with real-world pharma and healthcare use cases, including drug discovery datasets, clinical trial scenarios, and patient outcome modeling throughout the course.

Basic familiarity with Python is helpful, but the course also introduces specialized tools and no-code platforms that make AI accessible without deep programming expertise.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.