The majority of us enrol in medical school with the hope of becoming excellent doctors and life savers. Often, our mental image is that of a doctor frantically performing CPR or a surgeon successfully tackling a challenging operation. However, the field of medicine encompasses a broad spectrum of roles and responsibilities beyond these intense and critical moments. Whether it’s delivering compassionate bedside care or conducting groundbreaking research, each healthcare professional plays a vital role in advancing medicine and making a positive impact on people’s lives.
As aspiring doctors, we are driven by the desire to alleviate suffering, promote health, and serve our communities with dedication and empathy. However, there are many additional ways you can support and enhance patient care, beyond the adrenaline rush of emergencies and surgeries. Moreover, as a medical student, you can undoubtedly participate in clinical research.
What exactly is Clinical Research?
Clinical Research, as a branch of healthcare science, delves into investigating the safety and efficacy of drugs, equipment, diagnostic products, and treatments for human consumption. This rigorous examination of medical interventions is crucial to ensure that they are safe and effective before being made available to patients. By conducting well-designed clinical trials and studies, researchers can gather reliable data to make evidence-based decisions, leading to improved patient outcomes and the advancement of medical knowledge. The insights gained from clinical research play a significant role in shaping medicine. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in determining the best methods for disease prevention and treatment.
Clinical Research Investigator is someone who conducts clinical research and has completed clinical research courses. Additionally, the area of Clinical Research is often separated into three key sections:
- Pre-clinical research.
- Clinical research.
- Post-marketing surveillance.
Each segment plays a vital role in advancing medical knowledge, ensuring drug safety, and improving patient care. Furthermore, these distinct phases work cohesively to ensure that new medical interventions undergo rigorous testing, scrutiny, and monitoring before they are made available to the public, thereby safeguarding patient well-being and contributing to the overall progress of healthcare.
- Patient-oriented research, basic research, and applied research:
- Epidemiologic and behavioral studies
- Health-care research
When the Indian government specified that each pharmaceutical should only be introduced into the market after a clinical researcher has examined it, the need for clinical researchers skyrocketed. According to recent surveys, around 60,000 healthcare experts are necessary to make this rule a reality.
Job Opportunities in Clinical Research after MBBS
Recent changes to regulations have had a significant effect on the life of a Clinical Research Investigator. Additionally, the Clinical Research field, which currently boasts a business growth of 250 crores, is projected to soar to around 5000 crores within the next few years.
Consequently, a career in this field can help investigators end up with a good income, comparable to that of a doctor.
Several research sectors have opened job opportunities for clinical investigators, including Pharma Industries, Biotech Companies, and Research Laboratories.
Clinical Research is in high demand in the pharmaceutical industry. If you pick Clinical Research, you can work in the following positions:
- Principal Investigator
- Co-investigator
- Medical Advisor
- Drug Developer
- Regulatory Affairs Manager
- Physician Technical Write
- Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
- Clinical Research Coordinator (CRO)
- Counsellors
- Clinical Research Managers (CRM)
- Project Manager
What skills are required to pursue a career in clinical research?
Clinical research associates coordinate the collection, distribution, and storage of data obtained during clinical trials. The responsibilities associated with this role, however, are numerous.
1. Developing and writing clinical trial protocols
2. Create forms and templates for data collection.
3. Cooperate with the Ethics Committee to ensure that trials are conducted in an ethical manner
4. Establish trial sites, and ensure trials are conducted according to procedures and regulations.
6. Inform patients, doctors, and other personnel about the trial. Conduct trials at various sites and review data for regulatory submissions
7. Prepare presentations, reports, and manuscripts for publication
What makes clinical research an attractive career option for you?
Clinical research is a branch of science that seeks new and better ways to cure diseases and improve people’s overall quality of life. Clinical trials have enabled researchers to discover cures for diseases once thought incurable. A career in clinical research allows you to contribute to this noble cause while also making a difference in the lives of others. Furthermore, Clinical Research is an industry with a wide range of professions. You can work in the Clinical Research field after MBBS, conduct clinical trials, in a corporate office, or do research coordination. This provides you with numerous job possibilities to pick from. Another element that makes this a desirable career path is that it pays well even at the beginning level.
How can I get started as a clinical research associate?
As an MBBS with a medical background, you can try to gain some understanding of clinical research by completing any courses, such as a diploma or other relevant courses. If you already have some clinical research experience, consider applying and trying to attend CRO walk-ins. By doing so, you will have the opportunity to start as a new employee if you pass the interview. This approach can be an excellent way to leverage your existing expertise and secure a position in the clinical research industry.
Which is a better professional path?
A clinical research coordinator (CRC), commonly referred to as a clinical trial manager, plays a pivotal role in all types of medical studies. Moreover, they frequently work under the supervision of the principal investigator (PI), who is responsible for planning, participating in, and managing the clinical study from a high level.
It is therefore the CRC’s responsibility to support, guide, and arrange daily scientific trial activities. Clinical study coordinators also assist the department, sponsor, and institution with compliance, financial, and personnel issues. The CRC is responsible for administering the day-to-day medical operations, sports supervising, and carrying out delegated obligations to appropriate events as the manager of clinical research.
Additionally, they play a pivotal role in coordinating and overseeing various aspects of clinical trials, ensuring compliance with protocols, and fostering effective communication between research teams, participants, and healthcare professionals.
With their multifaceted skill set and attention to detail, CRCs contribute significantly to the smooth functioning and successful execution of clinical research studies, ultimately advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care.
To summarise, MBBS is a large field with a lot to offer. However, it requires hard work, careful planning, and the ability to choose the best alternative. Given the importance of MBBS, students should select the top Diploma that adds value to their medical knowledge.
Diploma in Clinical Research after MBBS with CareerInPharma
This curriculum is specifically designed to assist aspiring candidates in learning about the bioethics that occur in a hospital or clinic. Moreover, students who enrol in a clinical research diploma program with CareerInPharma gain advanced knowledge about the clinical research industry, which significantly enhances their intelligence and skills, ultimately leading to greater exposure in the field. The program covers a wide range of topics, including the latest technologies, safety strategies, and practical applications.
Indeed, a Clinical research course after MBBS in India is thoughtfully designed to develop quality clinical research analysts with the necessary skill set to work effectively in clinics and hospitals.
By combining theoretical learning with practical application, this program empowers students to actively engage in the research process and make significant contributions to the advancement of medical science. Furthermore, the program’s emphasis on cultivating critical thinking and problem-solving skills enables students to tackle complex research questions with confidence and precision. As a result, graduates emerge well-prepared to navigate the dynamic landscape of medical research and drive innovation in the field and graduates from CareerInPharma are well-prepared to make significant contributions to the advancement of healthcare and patient outcomes.
