Clinical Research Online Courses & Certifications

Clinical Research Courses 

Clinical research refers to the research activies carried out a human population. Clinical research aims to improve the knowledge about different types of diseases, develop effective diagnostic methods and treatments to ensure better patient care.

A clinical trial involves research participants. Follows a predefined plan or protocol to assess the effects of medical or behavioral intervention on health outcomes. By participating in clinical trials, participants not only take a more active role in their health care but also gain access to experimental treatments and help others by contributing to medical research.

What Does a Clinical Researcher do?

A clinical researcher is responsible to -

1. Detect research requirements and opportunities
2. Apply scientific concepts and tools to ensure clinical quality and safety
3. Apply the principles of healthcare organization and management
4. Critically analyze and develop action plans on the key factors and resources that make up the health and well-being of populations
5. Apply the pathophysiological aspects and the different diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in the disease and its complications
6. Confront and synthesize the determinants of disease and its problems with a holistic and integrating vision, with respect to both the determining factors of health and the provision of health care services
7. Use the information and communication technologies of each clinical field and apply them in complex biomedical systems
8. Interact with the care plan within the framework of integrated personalized medicine care programs

Clinical Research Courses Eligibility

Bachelor’s Degree/Courses/Programs - To get enrolled to bachelor's or graduate level clinical research courses, you should have 10+2 or equivalent degree with Physics, Chemistry and Biology from any recognized board/university/institute.

Master's Degree/Courses/Programs – To take up a Master's program in Clinical research, you would need to have a graduate degree in pharma, bioscience, computer science, statistics, math or related subject from any recognized board/university/institute.

What Skills Are Required to Excel as a Clinical research Expert?

Clinical research is a very niche field and you would need to have specific skills, which are as follows -

Technical Skills

1. Knowledge of Good Clinical and Documentation Practices
2. Knowledge of FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for Handling Electronic Records 
3. Ability to execute plans like create draft protocols, select appropriate methodologies, measures, analytical plans, and evaluation tools
4. Detailed knowledge of Good Clinical PracticeS and major regulatory submissions (NDA, BLA, MAA) governing clinical research

Business Skills

1. Curiosity and inquisitive mind
2. Global vision and basic knowledge
3. Critical analysis and synthesis capacity
4. Positioning of scientific evidence based on professional practice
5. Ethics and governance in the comprehensive understanding of the ethical dilemmas and limits under which their practice moves
6. Capacity for teamwork
7. Ability to communicate assertively

Best Clinical research Courses Online

Listed are some of the best clinical research courses from top course providers –

1. Clinical Research Certification Program for Investigators by ICAI
2. Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research by FutureLearn
3. Understanding Clinical Research: Behind the Statistics by Coursera
4. Data Management for Clinical Research by Coursera
5. Clinical Bioinformatics: Unlocking Genomics in Healthcare by FutureLearn
6. Demystifying Biomedical Big Data: A User's Guide by edX
7. Bioengineering: An Interface with Biology and Medicine by Coursera
8. Computer Aided Drug Design by NPTEL

Career Scope of Clinical research

Clinical Research is a growing field and offers an excellent career growth. In India, there are about 2,50,000 openings in this field and is a good industry for trained medical, pharmaceutical and paramedical professionals. Career options are available in -

1. Clinical diagnostics
2. Clinical data management
3. Chemical laboratories
4. Pharmaceuticals
5. Biocomputing companies
6. Clinical trial regulations
7. Preventive and precision medicine
8. Medical writing
9. Biomedical research

Best Clinical Research Books

You can also read the below listed books to learn the beginner as well as advanced concepts of Clinical research –

1. Fundamentals of Clinical Trials by Lawrence M. Friedman, Curt D. Furberg, David L. DeMets, David M. Reboussin
2. Designing Clinical Research by Stephen B. Hulley
3. Principles and Practice of Clinical Research by John Gallin, Frederick Ognibene, Laura Lee Johnson
4. Clinical Trials: Study Design, Endpoints and Biomarkers, Drug Safety, and FDA and ICH Guidelines by Tom Brody
5. A Clinical Trials Manual From The Duke Clinical Research Institute: Lessons from a Horse Named Jim by Kate Davis and Margaret Liu

Clinical research is a promising field that opens up new avenues of knowledge for development of new technologies and procedures in the medical field.