As you shift from academic clinical research training to hands-on research, you’ll dive deep into the complexities of sampling. In this field, “population” refers to individuals with common traits or conditions, usually linked to a specific disease. The large size and inaccessibility of a typical population make it impractical to study every affected individual. As a result, researchers usually focus on a “sample population,” a subset of the broader “target population.” The essence of sampling is to ensure that this chosen subset accurately reflects the larger group, minimizing discrepancies and gaps. Sampling is the foundational approach to selecting a group.. READ MORE »
What if science wasn’t public knowledge? Without scientific communication, it very well might not be. Scientific communication is the system of disseminating scientific discoveries, updates and arguments to the public. Scientific communication serves to raise awareness of topics related to science through different methods of education within various communication channels. While the practice of scientific communication has existed since the 19th century, today the field is changing as technology, social media, and new societal understandings are transforming how scientific information is related to the public. If you’re considering a career in the field of clinical research, understanding how scientific communication.. READ MORE »
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the spotlight on the global healthcare industry, putting its strategies and responses under the lens. Industry leaders are forced to examine the efficiency of clinical research procedures in forecasting new outbreaks and managing their spread. Big data analytics has been at the heart of the industry’s response to the global pandemic. Over the past year, new technologies have been used to understand, track, and contain the virus, with a profound impact on the way clinical research is conducted. As the nature of healthcare changes, the demand for clinical research professionals has never been greater. For.. READ MORE »
Conducting clinical trials requires specialized knowledge in order to write study protocols, conduct drug safety activities, and monitor the trials. Clinical research professionals are required to demonstrate that clinical work has been performed in compliance with regulations and operational practices. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are designed for that purpose. SOPs are a set of instructions that define and standardize procedures in clinical trials. They clearly document the rules of procedure to maintain consistency and accuracy. Students in clinical research training explore the global and national healthcare systems, including health care legislation, guidelines, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). With an understanding.. READ MORE »
Statistical analysis is a critical component in an evidence-based clinical research process. Statistical analysis is the process of collecting and analyzing data gathered to determine trends and patterns. Using statistical analysis allows researchers to establish whether the data they’ve obtained supports their research question. When approaching a clinical research study, it’s important to start the process with a statistical analysis plan (SAP), choosing the statistical methods which are appropriate for the study at hand. Despite its importance, developing a statistical analysis plan for clinical research can be a complicated task, especially if your research framework isn’t totally air tight. If.. READ MORE »
For any drug to be deemed safe for public consumption, it must first go through a life cycle of development. In Canada, this process is heavily regulated by the federal government, and must adhere to the guidelines of the Canadian Drug Review and Approval Process. Before any drug can be submitted to Health Canada for approval, it must undergo a series of phases, from preliminary research all the way to clinical trials. But what exactly do these processes for verifying a drug’s safety and efficacy involve? And why is each step necessary? Here’s what those seeking clinical research careers should.. READ MORE »
Clinical trials are essential for the development of new treatments. With this in mind, it becomes even more important to make sure sensitive data is protected in the process. This is especially true when these trials rely increasingly on digital file storage. Volunteers in these trials trust researchers’ ability to keep their data safe and secure, as well as protect their privacy. This can help prevent avoidable issues from occurring at any phase in the process, and reassure participants that their sensitive information is safe, secure, and confidential. By understanding the importance of protecting sensitive data from the view of.. READ MORE »
If you would like to combine your interest in science and health,then a career in clinical research may be the right choice. When you study clinical research, you have the chance to learn about topics such as pharmacovigilance practices.These generally refer to how pharmaceutical products are developed, tested, and monitored to ensure they are safe and consistent. One of the key components of pharmacovigilance practices for clinical research,as well as aftermarket surveillance, is safety signal interpretation. Keep reading to learn more about this process and how it factors into clinical research. What Are Safety Signals? As you take courses to.. READ MORE »
Height, weight, and gender are some of the standard factors looked at when determining the appropriateness or dosage of a medication, but even accounting for several of these may not result in a perfect solution. Accounting for the very genetic code of the individual who is meant to receive a treatment, though, could be the key to providing the precise care that is best suited for each person. Pharmacogenomics is the study of how the genome affects an individual’s reaction to a drug that enters their system. In an age of heightened focus on genetic modification and engineering, it is.. READ MORE »
The development of a dependable influenza (flu) vaccine was a major breakthrough for public health. For centuries, societies had suffered from seasonal outbreaks of this debilitating infectious disease. Nowadays, the lethal effect of the flu has been tempered in part via vaccination programs, but the disease still poses an ongoing risk, especially to the young, old, and those with compromised immune systems. Here’s how the ongoing development and persistent research around the vaccine has turned it into one of our enduring public health achievements. It’s a wonderful look into the important role that clinical researchers have in keeping the public.. READ MORE »
