CRO Guest User CRO Guest User

Benefits of Getting Clinical Research Certification Online

Online Clinical Research Training Programs 

principal+investigator+training.png

Fig 1.1 Clinical Research Training Program

In 2024, amidst the constant hustle, maintaining a well-trained staff remains paramount for success and upholding integrity in clinical trials. However, amidst the bustling schedules, the importance of clinical research training often gets overlooked. Recognizing this challenge, online clinical research training programs emerge as a viable and cost-effective solution for teams spread across diverse locations, all deeply committed to advancing their research endeavors.

Despite the widespread availability of clinical research training institutes, many still struggle to access adequate training resources. To ensure your team stays productive and abreast of the latest developments, embracing online research training becomes imperative, even for seasoned researchers seeking to rejuvenate their expertise. Notably, online programs circumvent the expenses associated with travel, accommodation, and meals, rendering them more financially feasible than traditional in-person training sessions. Moreover, pre-recorded online classes offer scalability, obviating the need for hiring instructors for every session. For those looking to focus on specific roles within clinical research, programs like the Clinical Research Coordinator course and the Clinical Trials Assistant Training offer tailored training that fits into these needs.

In the face of pandemics or other logistical challenges, online training proves invaluable by streamlining scheduling complexities and bypassing the need for coordinating multiday workshops. The advantages of online training in 2024 are multifaceted:

  1. Mobility Remote Learning

  2. Easy Accessibility

  3. Cost-Effectiveness

  4. Flexibility

  5. Constructive Criticism

  6. Information Retention

Amidst the prevailing pandemic circumstances, numerous organizations now offer online clinical research certificates, tailored to deliver interactive training experiences through group activities, case study discussions, quizzes, and gamified learning approaches. For those interested in more specialized areas, consider exploring courses like the Pharmacovigilance Certification, CRA training, ICH-GCP Certification, or the Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager Certification. For physicians aiming at the forefront of clinical trial management, the Advanced Principal Investigator Physician Certification and Medical Monitor Certification offer routes to advanced expertise and leadership roles (Rachel Silver and Kessler, 2024).

Screen Shot 2021-05-04 at 10.06.37 AM.png

Fig 1.2: Training for Clinical Investigators

With the increased use of technology in education, online learning has now become a usual method. Today digital information is everywhere and is available for everyone. The use of online learning is increased since 2012, as evident by thriving online courses. Online learning, knows as internet-based learning, has no time and space limitations. Therefore making teaching and learning adorable by the internet-based delivery system. The effectiveness of online training is affected by many factors. Some factor creates a barrier for online training:

•Administrative issue

•Social interaction

• Technical skillet

• Cost and access to the internet

• Learner motivation

• Time and support

Below are many online certificate courses in clinical research online  

Advanced Clinical Research Associate Certification (ACRAC)™

Advanced Clinical Research Coordinator Certification (ACRCC)™

Advanced Clinical Trial Assistant Certification (ACTAC)™

Group Orders & Organizational Training Subscriptions

Advanced Pharmacovigilance and Argus Safety Certification (APVASC)™

Advanced ICH GCP Certification (AGCPC)™

Advanced Physician Medical Monitor Certification (APMMC)™

Advanced Principal Investigator Physician Certification (APIPC)™

 Fig 1.3 Clinical research training online, CCRPS

 Fig 1.3 Clinical research training online, CCRPS

• CCRPS online courses: Training and continuing education from the society of clinical research associates that will promote quality research, protect the welfare of research, participate and improve global research.

 • PI: Clinical research training for a spectrum of investigator and other involved in clinical research

Applied clinical research training programs offered by many organizations like CCRPS are for individuals seeking to enter clinical research to enhance their knowledge and help them required for employment. A clinical research training program helps to play an important role in our health care.

References:
https://www.imarcresearch.com/blog/why-now-is-the-time-to-invest-in-remote-clinical-research-training— WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN REMOTE CLINICAL RESEARCH TRAINING
https://www.med.unc.edu/crso/covid/other/remote-educational-opportunities-for-clinical-research-teams/ — Remote Educational Opportunities for Clinical Research Teams
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4477547/ — Applying Clinical Research Skills to Conduct Education Research: Important Recommendations for Success
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829707/ — Defining Translational Research: Implications for Training
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6491176/ — E‐learning for health professionals
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6758693/ — Does online learning work better than offline learning in undergraduate medical education? A systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5625951/ — Clinician–Investigator Training and the Need to Pilot New Approaches to Recruiting and Retaining This Workforce

Read More
CRO J Walsh CRO J Walsh

Decentralized Clinical Trials A Revolution in Healthcare Research and the Evolving Role of CROs

As we dive into the year 2024, the scene of clinical research is undergoing significant changes, with Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) taking center stage. Here's a modern overview of DCTs and the significant role Contract Research Organizations (CROs) play in their implementation.

The Rise of Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) in 2024:

Patient-Centric Evolution: In 2024, DCTs are experiencing increased popularity, fueled by advancing technology and infrastructure. These trials prioritize patient needs, revolutionizing the clinical research experience by enabling participation from the comfort of participants' homes or local healthcare providers. This patient-centric approach eliminates barriers related to distance, ensuring broader accessibility. To learn more about enhancing your career in this evolving field, consider enrolling in the Clinical Trials Assistant Training.

Improved Flexibility and Accuracy: DCTs bring flexibility to scheduling and data collection, minimizing potential errors and improving outcome precision. Patients can engage in trials without the need for physical access to hospital-based sites, overcoming challenges posed by geographical distances or other factors. The integration of FDA guidelines ensures ethical considerations, emphasizing patient privacy, informed consent, and access to essential medical care. Professionals looking to oversee these aspects may benefit from the Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager Certification.

Utilization Strategies for CROs in 2024:

Adapting Protocols: CROs can leverage DCTs by adapting protocols to incorporate remote data collection, patient-centric strategies, and virtual engagements. Remote data collection allows capturing participant-generated data through digital devices, enhancing accuracy. Patient-centric protocols enable personalized interaction, including self-reporting and virtual interaction, enhancing the overall trial experience. Those interested in coordinating such trials can explore the Clinical Research Coordinator course.

Utilizing Technology Advancements: 2024 presents advanced technological integrations for CROs implementing DCTs. Artificial intelligence technologies, such as automated monitoring of patient behavior, personalized risk-profile-based interventions, and remote health guidance, enhance trial efficiency. Mobile applications play a significant role, facilitating participant updates, medication adherence, and survey completions. For further expertise in this area, the ICH-GCP course is highly recommended.

Steps to Successful DCT Implementation in 2024:

  1. Educating Project Managers: Train project managers with knowledge of DCT benefits, technology, regulations, and data security, ensuring they are well-prepared for implementation. The Advanced Principal Investigator Physician Certification can provide in-depth training for leading clinical studies.

  2. Ensuring Data Security Measures: Strengthen data security measures before commencing DCTs, emphasizing permission-based data access and encrypted transmission protocols. The Medical Monitor Certification course focuses on overseeing clinical trial data integrity.

  3. Evaluating eClinical Platforms: Select eClinical platforms that align with study design needs, ensuring user-friendliness, remote monitoring capabilities, robust reporting, and easy data accessibility.

  4. Leveraging Mobile Technologies: Embrace mobile technologies for seamless communication with participants, real-time engagement, quick data collection, and remote compliance tracking.

  5. Establishing Clear Protocols: Define clear protocols for consistent communication, supervision, quality control, safety reporting, and data collection across different sites throughout the trial.

This integration aims to provide additional educational resources for readers looking to deepen their understanding of the clinical research field, especially in the context of the evolving landscape of Decentralized Clinical Trials.

DCTs' Affect on CROs and Worldwide Quiet Engagement:

Taken a toll Diminishment and Efficiency

DCTs offer CROs noteworthy fetched decreases related with conventional on-site trials, streamlined understanding enrollment, speedier information examination, and expanded generally efficiency.

Technology-Driven Persistent Monitoring:
Technological headways in DCTs empower vigorous farther persistent checking, leveraging wearables, telemedicine, and electronic wellbeing records. These developments lead to more exact information collection and investigation, contributing to made strides understanding outcomes.

Worldwide Reach and Bigger Understanding Engagement:
The decentralized nature of DCTs encourages synchronous worldwide considers, evacuating calculated obstructions and growing understanding engagement conceivable outcomes. Social media stages improve enrollment past conventional networks.

Continuous Improvements and Collaborations:

Blockchain and Conveyed Record Technologies:
Recent collaborations, like Decentralized Clinical Trials LLC's organization with Johnson & Johnson, exhibit the integration of blockchain and conveyed record innovation for secure, real-time data exchange.

Wearable Gadgets and Real-time Monitoring:
Innovative organizations, such as Novartis' worldwide trial utilizing wearable gadgets, emphasize the significance of real-time checking for early discovery of health-related signs.

Looking Ahead:

As we explore 2024, decentralized clinical trials proceed to reshape the clinical inquire about scene. Grasping innovation, progressing techniques, and cultivating worldwide collaboration, the marriage of DCTs and CROs holds huge guarantee for effective, patient-centric, and cost-effective clinical trials. Remain tuned for more progressions as the year unfolds.

To engage your group in exploring the subtleties of decentralized clinical trials, consider enlisting them in our comprehensive clinical trial certification courses, centering on the most recent patterns and strategies, counting farther checking.

Read More
CRO J Walsh CRO J Walsh

Most Common Clinical Trial Therapy Areas

Top 5 Clinical Trial Areas Shaping Healthcare in 2024


Sure! Here's the updated blog content with all the course links added in the relevant sections:

The relentless pursuit of medical progress hinges on clinical trials. These meticulously designed studies evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel treatment approaches, paving the way for breakthroughs that improve and extend lives. With the number of global clinical trials steadily rising, staying abreast of the most prominent research areas is crucial. This blog post delves into the top 5 clinical trial areas capturing attention in 2024, exploring their prevalence, funding, anticipated outcomes, and the exciting future of clinical research.

Oncology: Spearheading the Fight Against Cancer

Cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, necessitating a relentless quest for innovative therapies. In 2024, oncology continues to reign supreme in clinical trial research, accounting for nearly half of all ongoing trials worldwide. The United States stands as a leader, boasting over 25,000 active oncology trials, closely followed by Europe's collaborative efforts in cancer research.

Driven by a shared global mission, governments, pharmaceutical giants, and non-profit organizations have poured billions into cancer research. In the United States alone, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) secured over $6.5 billion in funding for 2024. This year's prominent trials target notoriously challenging cancers like lung, breast, and pancreatic cancers, with a focus on immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and cellular therapies. Advancements in technology and international collaboration promise a bright future for oncology research, pushing the boundaries of cancer treatment ever further. Those looking to manage such trials can gain valuable expertise through the Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager Certification.

National Cancer Institute

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Europe

American Cancer Society

Neurology: Battling the Burden of Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis cast a long shadow, impacting millions worldwide. Recognizing this growing burden, neurology has become a frontrunner in clinical trial research. The United States leads the pack, followed by Europe and Asia.

Global funding for neurological clinical trials reached new heights in 2024, with a particular emphasis on tackling neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Public and private sectors joined forces, with organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocating over $3 billion to neurological clinical trials in 2024. These trials aim to achieve breakthroughs in slowing down, preventing, or even curing these debilitating diseases, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for affected individuals. For those looking to contribute to this field, the Clinical Trials Assistant Training can provide essential skills and knowledge, while the ICH-GCP course offers guidance on good clinical practice standards.

National Institutes of Health (.gov)

Infectious Diseases: Combating Emerging and Re-emerging Threats

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a stark reminder of the critical role research plays in combating infectious diseases. In response, the field has witnessed a surge in clinical trials specifically focused on infectious diseases. Funding for these trials has received a global boost, with both public and private sectors contributing to the development of novel vaccines and treatments.

In 2024, clinical trials in infectious diseases tackled both novel pathogens and resurging threats like tuberculosis and malaria. The World Health Organization (WHO) played a pivotal role in funding and initiating these trials, collaborating with governments and pharmaceutical companies to ensure rapid response and treatment development. These trials' outcomes will contribute significantly to global health security, ensuring preparedness for future pandemics and disease outbreaks. The Pharmacovigilance Certification course is designed for those interested in monitoring the safety of these crucial medical interventions.

World Health Organization

Cardiology: A Global Fight Against Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death worldwide, claiming nearly 18 million lives annually. In 2024, cardiology clinical trials focused on improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of CVD, encompassing areas like heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension.

Funding for cardiology research came from a multitude of sources – government agencies, non-profit organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. The United States, Europe, and several Asian countries allocated substantial resources to support these clinical trials. The anticipated outcomes emphasize personalized and precision medicine approaches in cardiovascular healthcare.

Oncology: One of the most common clinical trials by therapy area is oncology, which involves testing medications and treatments with the goal of helping to improve patient outcomes when dealing with various types of cancer. Examples of these clinical trials include those that seek to determine the efficacy of new drugs in treating particular forms of cancer, or researching novel therapeutic approaches such as immunotherapy.

Cardiovascular Disease: Clinical trials related to cardiovascular disease are also quite common. These tests may involve assessing the effectiveness of new medications that can help lower blood pressure or improve cardiac function, as well as examining lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise for their potential to reduce risk factors associated with heart disease.

Diabetes: Clinical trials related to diabetes are also a frequent occurrence due to its prevalence in many parts of the world. These studies often aim to understand how better management strategies for diabetes can improve quality of life for patients and reduce long-term complications associated with this condition.

Neurology: Clinical trials pertaining to neurology are commonplace in research settings because there is still much unknown about how the brain and nervous system work, as well as treatment effectiveness for conditions like epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke recovery.

Mental Health: Mental health-related clinical trials are becoming increasingly more common as researchers continue to investigate and develop better treatments for depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, addiction and other issues related to mental health and wellbeing.

Respiratory Disease: Clinical trials involving respiratory diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have become more commonplace in recent years due to their rising prevalence throughout the world; they typically involve testing new medications or therapies that can help manage symptoms and reduce exacerbations associated with these conditions.

Immunology: Immunology-focused clinical research has become more popular over recent years due to its potential implications for developing treatments for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus; these clinical trials often involve testing existing medications or creating new ones from scratch in order to achieve desired results regarding immune system regulation within individuals living with autoimmune conditions .

Gastroenterology: Gastroenterological clinical research is commonplace due primarily to its relevance within digestive disorders such as Crohn’s Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Research conducted in this area generally seeks to gain an understanding into how certain dietary changes or drug treatments might be effective at managing symptoms associated with gastrointestinal problems while reducing side effects associated with traditional pharmacological approaches .

Endocrinology: Endocrinological clinical research is yet another form of study found in medical circles due primarily via its relevance within hormone-related issues such as diabetes mellitus type 1 & 2; this type of study typically involves testing ways in which different hormones might interact differently between individuals who have similar conditions but don't respond positively/negatively the same way when it comes to traditional forms of treatment .

Ophthalmology: Last but not least is ophthalmology which looks at vision disorders like glaucoma and age related macular degeneration (AMD); here researchers test existing medications/treatments looking for improvement when it comes both short term relief from eye pain/blurring but also long term protection against further loss/damage occurring over time via regular monitoring sessions

Learn more about clinical trials and become involved in management of clinical trials through further training with CCRPS.

Read More
CRO, Students, Career AD CRO, Students, Career AD

Good Documentation in Clinical Trials

WHAT IS GOOD DOCUMENTATION IN CLINICAL TRIALS?

The medical record of the subject before, after, and during the clinical trial is a Source Document.

Characteristics of Source document:

  • It helps to confirm whether the individual is eligible for a clinical trial or not. For professionals looking to enhance their skills in managing clinical trials, consider the Clinical Research Coordinator course and the Clinical Trials Assistant Training course.

  • It documents the progress of the subject from consenting till the completion of the given clinical study.

  • It helps to record how much investigational product is dispensed, used, and returned by the subject.

  • At any point of the treatment, the source document is a complete medical record of the subject as a reference.

  • Finally, it forms well-built data. Then it is transcribed to CRF that translates into a clinical study report.

The source document supports the fundamental principles necessary for the protection of subjects’ rights, safety, and well-being, and aligns with the principles taught in the ICH-GCP course.

ALCOA-C:

ALCOA-C covers all the main aspects of a source document that include some crucial definitions and documentations, first introduced by the U.S. FDA.

The reason why it got implemented in medical practices; is to ensure confidentiality, credibility, accuracy, and validation. ALCOA-C is the abbreviation of some crucial terms in clinical trials that are as follow:

Figure no. 1: ALCOA-C

Figure no. 1: ALCOA-C

  • Attributable

  • Legible

  • Contemporaneous

  • Original

  • Accurate

  • Enduring

  • Available and accessible

  • Complete

  • Consistent

  • Credible

  • Corroborated



For those involved in pharmacovigilance, the Pharmacovigilance Certification course can provide further training on ensuring drug safety and efficacy that adheres to these standards.

Types of a Source Document:

There are two types of Source Documentation:

  1. Electronic - Electronic record means any combination of text, graphics, data, audio, pictorial, or other information representation in digital form that is created, modified, maintained, archived, retrieved, or distributed by a computer system. For more specialized training, consider the Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager Certification and the Medical Monitor Certification course.

  2. Paper - Paper Source Documents can be handwritten data on pre-printed forms prepared in advance or handwritten records. Those aiming for leadership in clinical research might explore the Advanced Principal Investigator Physician Certification.

The most common type of Source Documentation (SD) is official medical documentation used in medical institutions regularly:

  • Medical History

  • Outpatient Medical Chart

  • Various Logs / Hospital Charts

For a comprehensive understanding of clinical trial documentation and monitoring, the CRA (Clinical Research Associate) course is highly recommended.

Screen Shot 2021-05-04 at 10.31.30 AM.png

Table no. 1: examples of source document in clinical trials.

Examples of Source Document in Clinical Trial:

Participant’s medical reports

Phone encounters or notes

Report Participants diaries 

Specific research worksheets

Figure no. 2: general flow chart for clinical data management.

Figure no. 2: general flow chart for clinical data management.

Clinical Data Management:

The process of collecting, cleaning, and management of subject’s data following regulatory standards is known as clinical data management (CDM).


Table no. 2: tools for CDM.

Table no. 2: tools for CDM.

Main Objectives of CDM:

  • To provide high-quality data.

  • To keep the number of errors and missing data as low as possible.

  • Try to get maximum data for analysis.

Table no. 3: minimum requirement for CDM team.

Table no. 3: minimum requirement for CDM team.

The electronic information obtained from the CDM must comply with the Code of Federal Regulation (CRF), 21 CRF Part 11. CRF operates the existing records in an electronic format that we created, modified, stored, archived, retrieved, or transferred. ( binny et al., 2012)

Case Report Form:

CRF is the first step in the translation of protocol-specific activities into the data being generated. It should be concise, user friendly, and self-explanatory. (binny et al., 2012)

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3121265/ - Good documentation practice in clinical research
https://conductscience.com/portfolio/alcoa-c/ - ALCOA-C
https://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/view/targeting-source-document-verification - Targeting Source Document Verification
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3326906/ - Data management in clinical research: An overview
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4170533/ - Basics of case report form designing in clinical research
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3857788/ - Remote Source Document Verification in Two National Clinical Trials Networks: A Pilot Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4386950/ - Impact of source data verification on data quality in clinical trials: an empirical post hoc analysis of three phase 3 randomized clinical trials

Read More
CRO Guest User CRO Guest User

Clinical Research Staff Training: Clinical Research Education and Training Requirements

Strategies to Improve Training of Clinical Research Staff: Education and Training Required for a Clinical Researcher

 
Fig no. 1:Clinical research training 

Fig no. 1:Clinical research training 

 

Training for clinical research workers nowadays is not appropriate to prepare them for today’s scientific complexity and to enhance their abilities as research workers, in-depth training is required. The enhancement of clinical research training has developed competency standards for principle trainers or organizer.

Over the past decades, various training institutes and research societies have supported a competency-based approach. Characteristics that distinguish competency-based education from other training techniques is

• Learner outcome that based on analysis of typical responsibilities

• Sequenced modules that allow workers to work according to their pace

• A curriculum that focused on what leaner need to learn to perform a specific task rather than studying an unnecessary subject

Table no 2: action and steps to enter clinical research field

Table no 2: action and steps to enter clinical research field

Clinical Research Training Program - Training required to be a clinical researcher

Fig. No 3: Competency-based training wheel

Fig. No 3: Competency-based training wheel

In one clinical research training program study, it provided a year-long training program for research to 350 medical and dental students. Out of these 135 students who completed their training in the research program, nearly 85 of them conducted research, and 25 percent of them are devoted to their research works. Data suggest that competency-based training helped frost the career of many research students.



The role of efficient training is very significant for professional development. Clinical research requires Highly specialized training such as adequate knowledge, proper skill, and the right attitude. Equally important is to recognize the right way of training for specific kinds of research. A survey in 2008 identified that knowledge as a research work must have knowledge of ethics, informed consent, audits, and drug development process. Skills such as negotiation, teamwork, and interpersonal skills are necessary.  Surveys identify skills required at different levels of research and training institutes train their workers these kinds of skills through workshops and role play.

Clinical Researcher Training Requirements  

We must identify core competencies in students working on a clinical research program for this. To improve the efficiency of a training program, we must differentiate requirements at a basic and professional level. First, we must improve the quality of training by focusing on their needs and then providing entry-level facilities to fulfill those needs. Second, we must differentiate the needs of entry-level professionals. Thirdly, academic – training collaboration is mandatory for conducting more programs and improving the infrastructure of research work in hospitals. We must focus on competency building in our research works. We must survey that what knowledge and skills are for clinical research training. For this purpose, we need professionals having clinical research experience of more than five years and have decision-making capability in the research work.

The survey questioner includes knowledge and skill on the x-axis

  • Knowledge area further classified as

•General

• Ethics 

• Regulation

• Methodology 

• Clinical trial execution 

  • Skills classified as

• Leadership

• Teamwork

•Communication Skill

The survey suggests that for the CRA role, knowledge of subtopics like general methodology and ethics is necessary. After its launch in 2006, the research training industry has developed a ton and CROs are now outsourcing training to organizations like CCRPS to help ensure high-quality training for new staff.

References and important studies to reference:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5408836/ - Education and training of clinical and translational study investigators and research coordinators: A competency-based approach
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5501747/ - Outcomes from the NIH Clinical Research Training Program: A Mentored Research Experience to Enhance Career Development of Clinician–Scientists
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3043365/ -Training for clinical research professionals: Focusing on effectiveness and utility
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3073101/ - Core Competencies for Research Training in the Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3043360/ - Training needs of clinical research associates
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6798189/ - Enhancing Clinical Research Professionals’ Training and Qualifications (ECRPTQ): Recommendations for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training for investigators and study coordinators

Read More
CRO Guest User CRO Guest User

Pharmaceutical and Contract Research Organization Employee Training

Pharmaceutical companies are confronting the increasingly-stressful challenge of providing higher performance at less cost and in less time whilst complying with an increasing amount of guidelines and regulations (like ICH GCP and the Clinical Trial Directive). This puts tremendous strain on the technical and technical skill foundation of all businesses, big, small or medium.

Certification courses, clinical study certain coaches and managers like CCRPS accountable for developing clinical study employees are now confronted with the requirement to deliver faster, powerful, and lasting coaching solutions. These solutions not just have to eliminate present gaps in ability, but in addition they will need to construct"World Class" competencies for clinical researchers.

In spite of the size of the business, resources could be restricted for spending on training clinical study staff. Hence, the investments in training have to get concentrated on providing invaluable training options that strategically enhance clinical research operation.

This restriction of funds may call out to the growth and skilful implementation of a pharmaceutical practice plan. This isn't only be a responsive solution where staff would register in publiclyavailable classes. Instead, it might entail building an inner training plan that would be strong and resilient in the face of daily pressures encountered while conducting clinical development applications. These pressures often overwhelm, and they occasionally wipe possible worth from off-the-job training, as employees may not have the capability to completely implement what they've learned.

This report asserts that a training plan is critical so as to maintain and harvest the complete value of crucial training interventions. Additionally, the training approach has to be appropriately sourced--maybe not the simplest, most evident solution available on the industry.

A"Training Plan" could be described as value-added, prioritized and readily-implementable strategy for addressing both present and future performance openings.

A training approach links the organizational and business goals with the requirements of people. The training plan has to be dynamic so as to account for modifications inside the business in addition to external changes (e.g., the rising regulations impacting drug development like the Clinical Trial Directive, along with also the ICH electronic common technical document, and raising Phamacovigilance needs ).

The components of the definition could be dissected as follows:

Value-added -- The coaching plan should Not Just address the Particular performance enhancements that will be achieved, but it should also provide a business case because of its rationale (e.g., the coaching intervention Ought to Be aligned with the clinical trial program development strategy )

Prioritized -- The plan should Take into Consideration comparative beauty, difficulty of execution, and urgency

Implementable -- It Ought to Be carefully examined against probable obstacles to bringing its Entire worth

Strategies -- A coherent Summary of Important goals, options and activities (the"how"), ought to be provided

Thorough -- The coaching plan shouldn't be curative -- it ought to also address Substantial improvements in coaching abilities, in Addition to differences between current skills and new abilities needed to meet challenges in the future surroundings

Before we consider creating a training plan, let's analyze its possible additional value.

"Worth" originates in the notion of'economic value'; finally, all company activities have a stage to indirectly or directly create income stream. Even worth of company staff comes from using growth capacity and safety, and it is ultimately linked to the cash flow.

Coaching from an assortment of resources ends in potentially-increased financial price.

In clinical study, this comprises:

Insightful and synergistic conclusion in medication development (e.g., growth of a lifestyle medication such as Viagra)

Avoiding mistakes, disturbance and re-work (e.g., powerful observation for the reduction of Information inquiries )

Accelerating procedures (e.g., quicker patient recruiting via CRAs, more efficiently motivating investigator site groups )

Enhancing the adoption of specialized know-how from the execution of an electronic data capture system and a clinical trial management system

Aligning behavior (e.g., clinical research team and information management understanding each other's needs to Allow them to create CFRs that facilitate more precise data collection, in Addition to enabling easy data entry)

Shifting mind-set (e.g., clinical study team welcoming audit and review as an Chance to verify the GCP compliance of the procedures )

Every one of those value-creating actions is targeted concerning this'From-To's' of changes -- that will ultimately create economic price. This is sometimes expressed as a"From-To" or"FT" evaluation. This analysis may be used to assess the difference in experience in a skills area so as to think about how to handle the gap and to help evaluate the efficacy of the coaching intervention.

Some pharmaceutical companies have started to evaluate the company value of implementing training plans. This value-based mind-set isalso, possibly, brand new to pharmaceutical firms and also to those responsible for executing clinical research training. Basically, the vital ingredient for every single training initiative would be to get a business case that about aims its worth.

Diagnosis of present position generally starts with some concentrated competency (skills) evaluation. Competency analysis entails collecting data and can easily grow to be a significant exercise, one at risk of having an end in itself. This is very true in the pharmaceutical sector, in which there are lots of technical specialties.

An excellent starting point would be to examine the applicable current clinical study processes to recognize the main clinical study project skills, job skills, scientific/technical and social abilities. A variety of approaches may be utilized to collect data, such as structured interviews, surveys, focus discussion groups, audit findings, and formal or informal opinions including advice from surveys regarding training requirements. You don't have to use these methods and frequently, a sample of structured interviews of the two supervisors and staff regarding a specific job function provides quite informative information, because this is an especially flexible method of getting insights. Individuals are not as inclined to offer insights when just answering a typical questionnaire.

The information gathered will be assessed and examined to permit you to assess the first difference between the current proficiency and the skills demanded of a medical study regimen. A first training gap analysis could be attracted by differentiating between the following:

Where you reside, and where you Have to Be currently

Where you reside, and where you Have to Be in the near - to become what is known as"World Class" in clinical study

A report can then be made to explain the goal of the particular training needs evaluation, the processes used to accumulate the information, the abilities / performance openings and original options for handling these requirements. Some of those needs will be particular training options and others will probably be types of organizational aid, for example performance management.

Ideally, an individual will be"World Class" in all concerning clinical research in addition to in fixing all of the gaps in skills identified by the training needs analysis. Not only is this unrealistic, it might also bring about your dispersing of coaching tools much too .

Since the training gap analysis is very likely to spot a high number of training requirements, it's extremely beneficial to prioritize the areas to be dealt with in order to maximize effectiveness. It's helpful to evaluate their potential beauty and execution difficulty when taking out an initial prioritization of coaching proficiency gaps. This may be achieved with a technique known as the attractiveness-implementation problem grid (or'AID' evaluation ) -- consult for a number of examples of potential training openings. This output will fluctuate based on the specific findings of this training gap analysis, and won't be the exact same for many businesses.

Here, it's invaluable to distinguish between constant improvements (which involve maintenance of present capacity, or moderate improvements of it) plus a significant change in capacity which will have a significant effect on present and future operation.

A good illustration of a significant pharmaceutical abilities change is that over the past couple of decades, contract research organisations (CROs) have recognized they will need to invest around six months on intensive training to equip new untrained tracks together with the abilities to track clinical trials before they're effective at tracking sites independently. This has allowed CROs to fulfill the pharmaceutical firms with the idea that they'll attain sufficient quality criteria for tracking.

The region of digital data capture (EDC) introduces another instance where some businesses are wanting to conduct 90 percent of the clinical trials using EDC so as to lower the opportunity to enter clinical trial information. This is a significant shift in clinical research and investigative personnel work. For EDC implementation to work, important training initiatives are essential to ease changes in data collection procedures.

A substantial shift that the industry is researching is that the development of management skills in clinical study global clinical trial applications. Also, the business is analyzing clinical research for coaching the rising amount of clinical trial administrators, understanding management changes in regulatory conditions, and clinical study certification.

Not many significant training initiatives could be tried concurrently. Observing the Japanese doctrine of breakthrough, or"HOSHIN", it's ideal to employ only between one and three simultaneously, particularly at the onset of implementation. By shocking the successful execution of big training initiatives with time, maybe five or six goals might be fulfilled in 18-24 months.

After lots of tactical training priorities are identified, it's vital to examine their crucial interdependencies. All too frequently, training initiatives exist because comparatively self explanatory initiatives, while their potential and full value is highly dependent upon many of actively-managed interdependencies. Reaching full alignment of those interdependencies requires significant placement and communication of every initiative together with the players involved. It's vital to use an additional visual method, for example comprehensive stakeholder analysis. Here we view stakeholders (who may incorporate decision makers, advisers, implementers, or recipients), examined with their various approaches ('for','impartial' or'against') and their degree of influence.

In my experience, each the analytical methods covered in this guide must become involved so as to develop an effective training plan. The vital training required in important areas of"extend" and areas requiring continuous improvement ought to be identified together with the entire participation of senior line managers. The training section must act as the expert advisor on how instruction issues would be best addressed, implemented and tracked. However, this function shouldn't wholly or mostly take over the coaching intervention.

Besides getting the possession of senior management in the start, it's highly recommended that management is included in the comprehensive planning, the execution of their training programs, and also studying the support procedures themselves.

Reader exercise

To what extent does the version of the numerous functions (as described previously ) reflect practices in your business?

Where this doesn't occur, and what will be the issues and costs arising because of this?

Does line direction now have the abilities and mind-set to achieve this position? (Otherwise, what support and training are needed?)

Can the Training Department now have the abilities, mind-set and authenticity to accomplish this? (Otherwise, what training tools and repositioning are required and if these be sought externally, either in part or whole?)

Unless There's a close and genuinely symbiotic relationship between senior management and the coaching section, then the default option training plan likely to be implemented could be distinguished as follows:

A center of regular, routine in-house coaching programs which tackle past training demands -- partly and as one-on-one classes without actual followup and follow-through

The value/ROI (return on investment) of instruction is often assessed chiefly by"satisfaction sheets" instead of by real, concrete value-added evaluation

New requirements are characterized by senior management, and therefore are often not well identified. The Training Department/ coaching function is forecast to respond fast to place something in place, which occasionally fails to provide alternatives

Line supervisors and the coaching department/training function are responsive to individual requests for coaching, the outcome being that a lot of emphasis will be put on more costly and untailored public applications. When people return to their businesses, the learning dissipates as a consequence of the business's unchanged mindset.

This brings us to the problem of sourcing your coaching plan.

Possibly the ideal mix for coaching is that of tailored inner classes with follow-on job work and discerning mentoring alongside a reduce dependence on conventional classes such as predictable, core skills coaching.

A tailored, in-company strategy is especially suited for:

Technical abilities, if these are firm or department-specific

Job management abilities

General management abilities - like"people skills," strategic thinking, change direction, etc..

Direction and team-building

A good illustration of a tailored in-course program that combines the greatest internal and external firm standpoint and addresses a significant place where clinical study supervisors would help in enhancing their management abilities is titled,"World Class Management Skills - The illustration of the Mini Pharma MBA."

Combining Internal and External Trainers

An extremely strong shipping mix will be to supply tailored programs having an inner training resource and an outside supplier who will incorporate an external perspective. The Selection of an outside supplier could be based on the following criteria:

Technical skill in clinical research and GCP, monitor record and credibility of coaching clinical research and GCP QA professionals

Training abilities and fashion

Willingness to Know the company and provide a trulytailored training alternative

Probably fit inside the Organization's civilization

Flexibility and responsiveness

Concentrate on actual value-added (instead of simply on coaching and finishing satisfaction polls )

Conclusion and Next Steps

Pharmaceutical companies are placing ever-increasing requirements on their employees to execute to"World Class" criteria of clinical investigation, and this also necessitates the development and execution of a successful Training Strategy, using the above arrangement of identification, creation, and execution. Creating a really robust approach demands the symbiotic job of senior managers and a business-focused, strategic instruction section.

The training plan should have lots of crucial (prioritized) significant training initiatives during its heart. All these ought to be diagnosed with line supervisors, be well set up, and should subsequently be sourced in a innovative method to satisfy needs. Training options should be tailored as you can, preferably without emphasis on public classes and standardized internal classes.

Creating a training plan is a fascinating frontier for bringing clinical study into accordance with world class administration. Is your business prepared for the question?

Read More
Career, CRA, CRC, CRO Guest User Career, CRA, CRC, CRO Guest User

How Clinical Research Certification Could Help You Land a Job

Clinical research courses are very important for a variety of clinical research positions that require different skill sets. To find the right job opportunity, there are a number of key factors which you should consider while finding a training course.

As a clinical researcher, you should know your long-term and short-term goals. Then, you should develop the skill sets and gain the experience to reach them. For example, if your goal is to move in from a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) to a Clinical Research Associate (CRA), you should start building skills that a regional associate or a monitoring role would find valuable. Sometimes that can be as easy as taking on more diverse tasks at your current position, or taking an online CRA course.

Benefits of holding clinical research certification

According to the clinical association research profession, the evidence indicated to the regulatory bodies that certification reduces the risk factor to work in a research subjects.

It has been shown that trials have fewer errors, lower costs or more rapid turnaround, and higher safety in clinical trials when certified professional trainees are involved.

Certifications can help demonstrate to employers your confidence and abilities, as well as your long-term and short-term goals and how they might benefit the company. For CROs, employees with certifications will improve their company’s marketability and standards. Certification in areas like Pharmacovigilance or ICH-GCP can be particularly valuable.

Certification will make you more competitive in the industry to allow you to stand out.

If a company interviews you and another candidate with equal experience and education, their manager will be more likely to hire the candidate who has a certification.

If you have a certification, you can negotiate for higher salary. Getting certified, especially in specialized roles such as Clinical Trials Assistant Training, Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager Certification, or Advanced Principal Investigator Physician Certification, will open more opportunities to you, where you can be hired for more senior and better paid positions within the company.

Even though there are enormous job vacancies in this field, employers will only hire skilled applicants that can do the job. A certification is a formal recognition for your skills, experience and performance. It will help validate your resume, especially when they are compared to other applicants’.

There are lots of clinical research online certification courses where you can study under best universities. To understand more, you can visit ccrps.org to understand their online certification course work, as well as any questions about the clinical research exam. Below, we have complied some helpful articles to help you excel in the field.

Take courses from CCRPS and learn more on how to become a clinical research professional.

Discover more from Clinical Research Training | Certified Clinical Research Professionals Course

Read More
Current Professionals, CRO Guest User Current Professionals, CRO Guest User

An Overview of Covance CRO Clinical Research I Covance Clinical Trials

Covance CRO

With the increasing demand for skilled professionals in clinical research, it's imperative to consider courses that can equip individuals with the necessary expertise. Covance, as a renowned clinical research organization (CRO), underscores the importance of having trained personnel to ensure the safety and efficacy of clinical trials.

For those aspiring to venture into clinical research, courses such as Clinical Research Coordinator and Pharmacovigilance Certification can provide fundamental knowledge and skills. These courses cover essential aspects of clinical trial management and drug safety, preparing individuals to contribute effectively to research endeavors. Similarly, the CRA (Clinical Research Associate) course equips learners with the expertise needed to monitor clinical trials according to regulatory standards, including the International Conference on Harmonisation - Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) guidelines.

Moreover, individuals interested in supporting clinical trials as assistants can benefit from specialized training programs like Clinical Trials Assistant Training. These courses offer insights into the administrative and logistical aspects of clinical research, enhancing participants' ability to contribute to the smooth conduct of trials.

For those seeking advanced roles in clinical research management, certifications such as Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager and Advanced Principal Investigator Physician provide comprehensive training in leadership, project management, and regulatory compliance. These certifications are valuable assets for professionals aspiring to take on leadership positions within the clinical research industry.

Furthermore, specialized roles such as Medical Monitor Certification cater to professionals involved in overseeing the medical aspects of clinical trials, ensuring participant safety and protocol adherence.

By enrolling in these courses, individuals can acquire the necessary qualifications and skills to thrive in the dynamic field of clinical research, contributing to the advancement of medical science and improving human health.

Explore our courses: Clinical Research Coordinator

Pharmacovigilance Certification

CRA

ICH-GCP

Clinical Trials Assistant Training

Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager Certification

Advanced Principal Investigator Physician Certification

Medical Monitor Certification

Covance Clinical Trials

Clinical trials go through carefully planed phases to reliably verify a drug. Any medicine available from your local pharmacy are the result of cumulative efforts of volunteer Participants. Without them, medical science will grind to a halt.

Covance is dedicated to delivering solutions and advancing the healthcare sector. This company has decades of expertise and precision in this field. If you are interested in how you can volunteer for a study, you can check out their website here.

Explore COVANCE’s broad range of specialized services:

Preclinical Reach IND/CTA quickly with a programmatic approach or choose from thousands of studies.

Clinical Trials Remove roadblocks to early & late trials with intelligent recruitment, integrated project delivery and therapeutic expertise.

Post-Marketing Solutions Maximize your product’s value and ensure patients have access to safe and effective treatments.

Clinical Trial Laboratory Services Comprehensive laboratory support for all phases of clinical trials.

Chemical & Crop Protection Meet global crop protection and chemical guidelines with expertise paired with regulatory insights.

Medical Devices Leverage a specialized team and powerful collection of resources for every step of product development.

Improve clinical study outcomes with unrivaled, proprietary data and technology.

Take courses from CCRPS and learn more on how to become a clinical research professional.

Discover more from Clinical Research Training | Certified Clinical Research Professionals Course

Read More
CRO, Current Professionals Guest User CRO, Current Professionals Guest User

Where are Clinical Research CROs Growing?

The field of clinical research is one that has become very important. More than ever before, there are CROs (clinical research organizations) popping up everywhere in the world.

CROs are responsible for supporting pharmaceutical companies, medical device industries, biotechnology companies, government institutions, and so on with outsourced research services. The presence of CROs all over the world has made it possible to conduct more clinical trials at one time. In addition, they have helped increase the success rate of clinical trials by providing the clinical researchers with information that are necessary for their own subsequent researches to be successful.

The presence of CROs in USA have helped to improve the quality of healthcare service in the country and in the world at large. No matter where you live in USA, there are a lot of clinical researches going on around you and there are more clinical research organizations in Los Angeles, Chicago, new York, Philadelphia etc.

It is important to state clearly that the United States of America is not the only country that conduct clinical research, and thus it not the only place where it thrives. There are different clinical research centers all over the world.

In the United Kingdom, the field of clinical research has become very important. UK clinical research also has a lot of opportunities for aspiring clinical researchers.

Other countries like India also have a strong clinical research presence and although it is a competitive field, it’s not so difficult to get clinical research jobs in India.

Everywhere you go in the world, there are a plethora of clinical researches going on in different cities and locations all over the world. Clinical research is closer to you than you think.

If you’ll like to find out more about clinical research, check ccrps.org for access to the best clinical research consultation.

Take courses from CCRPS and learn more on how to become a clinical research professional:

Discover more from Clinical Research Training | Certified Clinical Research Professionals Course

Read More
CRO Guest User CRO Guest User

Everything You Need to Know About CROs

The clinical research industry has a lot of acronyms. It can be very confusing to navigate through the field’s vocabulary, especially if you are just starting to read about it. Below, I will tell you everything you need to know about CROs and make your life just a little bit easier.

What is a CRO?

CRO, or a clinical research organization, is a company that assist drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies by outsourcing the necessary stages and clinical trial processes. CROs streamline clinical trial processes and help in research and development (R&D). To better understand the roles within a CRO, consider exploring the Clinical Research Coordinator course or the Clinical Trials Assistant Training.

What is the outlook for CROs?

The CROs are critical to the R&D process, and they create growing field. In 2017, the pharmaceutical outsourcing market was valued at $3.37 billion. By 2024, it is estimated to become valued at $7.26 billion.

Many large companies have their own clinical research organization or rely on an outside company to conduct drug development and testing. Outsourcing these services save pharmaceutical companies a lot of money. By hiring a CROs, companies no longer have to recruit or maintain their own clinical department. This helps a company cut down costs overtime.

The two major CROs are the LabCorp and IQVIA.

LabCorp, or Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, generated $11.5 billion of revenue in 2019. LabCorp is split into two: Covance Drug Development and LabCorp Diagnostics. One focuses on clinical research from the early stage research to post regulatory approval, while the other focuses on the diagnostic tests.

IQVIA was the result of a merger between IMS Health and Quintiles in 2016. It had made $11.09 billion in revenue in 2019.

Why are CROs Growing?

Before a drug or medical device can be sold to the public, they must be approved by the relevant bodies. For example, in the U.S., a new drug must be FDA approved before it is released on the market. However, most evaluating bodies have high requirements and need a lot of quality, positive data approving a product. When companies expect unbiased and high-quality results, they hire a CRO.

CROs are experts at what they do. They provide skilled personnel to generate high-quality data and assist with the necessary paperwork so that an approval can go through. One of the most compelling reasons to hire a CRO is that they are unbiased. CROs work closely with the companies they work for, but are separate from them. They do not share a conflicts of interest and can be trusted to report accurate and truthful data.

Want to work for a CRO?

CROs are a part of a growing field, and they need a lot of manpower. There are so many postings for positions within a CROs right here. Don’t have any experience? Don’t worry! You can take courses from CCRPS and learn how to become a clinical research professional. Explore specialized courses like Pharmacovigilance Certification, CRA Training, ICH-GCP Training, Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager Certification, or Advanced Principal Investigator Physician Certification to further your understanding and skills in the field.

Take courses from CCRPS and learn more on how to become a clinical research professional.

Discover more from Clinical Research Training | Certified Clinical Research Professionals Course

Read More