Aspiring to make a career in the clinical research field? Have a read here to get an insight on how to become a clinical research coordinator.
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People who intend to make a career in the medical field but are not interested in patient care can become clinical research coordinators. Working on research trials for therapies, medications, and tests, among other things, allows you to change people’s lives. To determine whether this career path is apt for you, you should first understand the primary responsibilities of a clinical research coordinator. This article will explain what a clinical research coordinator is, their primary duties, the average salary, and how you can become one.
Who is a Clinical Research Coordinator?
A clinical research coordinator is a medical professional who plans and conducts medical research. They also oversee clinical trials to determine the efficacy and safety of drugs. In addition, they collaborate closely with the clinical research associates they supervise. Clinical research coordinators also collaborate closely with the principal investigators of their clinical research facility to ensure that all research trials adhere to ethical standards.
Let’s also go through the roles and responsibilities of CRC:
A clinical research coordinator’s primary responsibility is to oversee clinical trials and ensure that they are in accordance with the project’s objectives. They also examine whether a clinical trial adheres to a predefined protocol, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and other regulatory requirements. As a result, the clinical coordinator’s role is critical at three stages of clinical trials, namely:
- Before the clinical trial begins
- During the clinical trial process
- Post completion of the clinical trial
However, if aspirants take the CRC Course, they will have a better understanding of their responsibilities.
Requisites to become a Clinical Research Coordinator
You should have completed high school
Among several pre-requisites for becoming a clinical research coordinator, the one thing that you should possess is a high school diploma or GED. High school education includes lessons in biology, chemistry, math, physics, English, and communication, all of which are required for students to pursue college-level coursework. If you attend classes full-time, it usually takes four years to finish high school.
Get a bachelor’s degree
Prepare for a career as a clinical research coordinator by earning a bachelor’s degree in health science, biological sciences, life research, medical technology, or clinical research. This degree is typically completed in four years.
Diploma in Clinical Research
An Advance Diploma in Clinical Research course can help you take a step further towards your dream career. At Lifepoint Research, we offer such courses to new graduates or post-graduates that contain a pedagogy of topics like Fundamentals of Clinical Research, Phases of Drug Development, History of Clinical Trial Conduct, Setting up a Clinical Trial, and many such areas.
Gain a mini experience through an internship
Many employers prefer candidates with some experience in the field when hiring entry-level clinical research coordinators for clinical research trials. Take advantage of internship opportunities or part-time responsibilities in a research laboratory to gain experience. You might even be able to find a fellowship that allows you to conduct research while earning money.
Few pro tips
You can focus on the following tips to become a good and a successful Clinical Research Coordinator:
Keep looking into the most recent guidelines and regulations.
Conducting safe and fair trials is a critical aspect of being a clinical research coordinator. Clinical researchers must keep up to date on research rules and regulations. Because guidelines and regulations differ depending on location, you must understand the laws of a specific location before conducting research there.
Practice communicating with a variety of audiences.
Clinical research coordinators interact with co-workers, sponsors, students, patients, and physicians. They take complex ideas and present them to different groups of people. To become a thriving clinical research coordinator, you must first learn how to present complex research information to audiences.
Scope of work of a Clinical Research Coordinator after you receive a diploma or a certification:
Administrative responsibilities
A clinical research coordinator handles basic administrative tasks for their programme. They collaborate with the principal investigator, the department, the school, and central administration to ensure that the research team adheres to standard policies and federal regulations while conducting research. Instances of non-compliance are reported to the appropriate officers.
Personnel education
A clinical research coordinator contributes to the development of tools and materials used to train participants in a clinical research trial. They train people on protocol requirements, carry out research trial plans, keep research documents up to date, and schedule visits.
Making budgets
Clinical research coordinators work with the principal investigator and other departments in the clinical research facility to create budgets and expense reports. They also confirm the completeness and accuracy of a budget.
Protocol evaluation
The clinical research coordinator is in charge of reviewing and comprehending research protocols, including timelines, study procedures, confidentiality, exclusion and inclusion of criteria, and privacy protection. They also assist the principal investigator in communicating study requirements to team members involved in the clinical research process.
Reporting
Most clinical research coordinators uphold the ethical conduct of clinical trials by reporting any suspicious behaviour in clinical research. They adhere to the compliance and scientific reporting requirements outlined in federal regulations as well as the procedures and policies of the university or sponsoring agency. They may also register the study and keep its information up to date on the internet.
Benefits of becoming a Clinical Research Coordinator – In a nutshell
- The opportunity to earn the highest salary income
- Making a difference in society by improving overall health statistics
- Because many research coordinators are hired for hospitals, clinics, and laboratories, these organizations provide comprehensive benefits packages.
At Lifepoint Research, we teach you 26 exciting topics in various fields for a period of 6 months, followed by an internship and placement opportunities upon the completion of the course. Our faculty staff comes with extensive industry-experience and is dedicated to teaching in the most proficient manner; thereby, you learn from the best!
So, contact us today for a detailed enquiry on the Clinical Research Coordinator course.
