Your Complete Guide To Pursuing A Career In Clinical Research

When it comes to the medical world, the role of a clinical researcher has to be one of the most underrated career options of all. You might not be an active element of patient care here, but you will be driving the solutions used on the frontline. Instead of administering treatments, you’ll make them, adapt them, and perfect them for safe patient use.

If that sounds appealing, then keep on reading to find out everything you need to know about pursuing a career in clinical research.

What is Clinical Research?

Clinical research is the study of health and disease in order to ultimately bring new treatments to patients in the safest, most effective ways possible. Clinical researchers work to translate lab results into real-world outcomes, which will often have a worldwide impact.

Core activities for a clinical researcher will typically include responsibilities such as conducting clinical trials on chemical compounds, developing new medical equipment, and analyzing critical trial data with safety and outcomes in mind. One day, you might be researching potential applicable uses of high-purity lgd4 solution in sports medicine, and the next you’ll be publishing a report in a top scientific journal.

The varied nature and far-reaching implications of this career choice make it an incredibly exciting medical option.

What Qualifications Does a Clinical Researcher Need?

A Bachelor’s degree is the bare minimum you’ll need to enter the clinical research field, but you could earn significantly more by also pursuing a Master’s degree, which could include specializations such as:

• Chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Molecular biology
• Biomedical science
• Or similar

Many clinical researchers also opt to pursue certification through the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) or the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA). These courses typically combine a degree alongside a set number of working hours in a clinical research field. This is an increasingly valuable step to take, as researcher experience is becoming an increasingly determining factor in employment.

Understanding Clinical Research Positions

Most often, clinical research roles exist within pharmaceutical companies which will see you at the front edge of treatment development. It is also possible to find some clinical research positions in Contract Research Organisations (CROs), which work directly with hospitals and healthcare providers to understand the safety and effectiveness of a drug.

Within those settings, becoming a fully qualified and certified clinical researcher can provide opportunities in positions that include –

Clinical research associate (CRAs): CRAs monitor clinical trials to ensure compliance with everything from study protocols to regulatory requirements. CRAs are also often responsible for collecting data across clinical trial sites. 

Clinical research coordinator (CRC): CRCs are responsible for coordinating the day-to-day running of clinical trials. Responsibilities include recruiting patients, working with research teams, and managing study documents.

Clinical research scientist: Clinical research scientists are responsible for analyzing data and conducting research that leads to the development of new clinical approaches.

If you’ve got your mind set on a career in clinical research, then let this be your sign to pursue it at long last.