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Q What is clinical research? What are the career prospects in this field? — Narendra Rai A Before a drug is introduced in the market, it has to pass a lengthy approval process involving a series of clinical trials. This process is called clinical research. A fledgling industry till a while back, clinical research is now ready to take off in India. In fact, we are the second most preferred destination for outsourcing clinical trials for the global pharma industry today, which is 90 per cent cheaper than the West. Reason? India offers a large native patient base with a truly diverse gene pool on which broad-based clinical trials can be validated. Our climatic conditions also offer a perfect breeding ground for a range of different diseases. The only impediment preventing the industry from expanding is a severe shortage of clinical research associates and chemists familiar with complex chemical synthesis. Globally, more than 2.5 lakh positions are lying vacant. There is an increasing demand for CRP’s (Clinical Research Professionals) by pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Ranbaxy, Cipla etc who can design, code, conduct and report clinical trials with a clear understanding of Good Lab Practices including an understanding of Indian and international regulatory and research standards. Poaching within the industry is rampant. Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) with even one-year of training are prime targets for poaching while anyone with 4-5 years of experience is considered as a ‘rare diamond’. You could be working in-house with pharma or research or onsite interacting with the study coordinator and investigators conducting the clinical trial. Although many CR institutes enroll science graduates, they essentially end up doing data-management work. Medical professionals are best suited for going into actual CR work. So, it’s good times ahead for those opting for CR as a career. Please send your query to: careers@tribunemail.com
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