Clinical Research

CLINICAL RESEARCH DEGREE

Clinical research is the process that evaluates new technologies and drugs for safety and effectiveness. Clinical research technicians perform experiments and analyze data from clinical trials and other research projects. Clinical research associates supervise the lab technicians, plan and coordinate research projects, and report on findings to government, academic, and business sponsors. With the advent of biotechnology and rapidly expanding use of new drugs, there is a growing demand for clinical research specialists.

Clinical Research Degree Description

Technicians working in a clinical research program must have education and experience appropriate to the tasks they are required to perform as part of the clinical research team. Clinical research associates plan and supervise the research programs, and require at least a bachelor’s degree plus work experience in a field closely related to their work, such as biochemistry, microbiology, or nursing. Some research programs are directed by people with M.D. or Ph.D. degrees in the field of study that the clinical research is being conducted in. There are some clinical research degree programs that specifically address clinical research skills, such as the Master in Health Sciences: Clinical Research Administration Degree program. This program covers the processes necessary for bringing devices or drugs from the early research stage all the way to FDA approval for use by patients. Courses cover regulatory compliance, project administration, communications skills and other subjects necessary for effective clinical research program management.

Clinical Research Careers

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have a category specifically targeting workers in a clinical research program category, but includes it in the broader category of medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians. The BLS projects job growth in this area to be faster than the average of other occupations between now and 2018.

Clinical research careers include several aspects of the clinical research process. Clinical research associates plan, organize and direct collection and analysis of data. They interpret research results and report their findings to the research sponsors. Clinical research technicians perform the laboratory work necessary for obtaining useful results from collected data. They perform experiments and run analytical procedures using sophisticated equipment and computer systems. Clinical research coordinators recruit patients to participate in clinical studies of new devices and drugs, and monitor the patients to record responses and to watch for adverse reactions.

The work of clinical researchers is critical to the advancement of our health care system. By testing and evaluating emerging medical technologies, they act as the gateway between basic scientific research and its contribution to the health and well being of health care clients.