Onward Healthcare was pleased to launch a dedicated Clinical Research Staffing Division, Onward CRS, in September of 2007 that provides qualified professionals and full-service support to the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries.  Over the past few month’s we have received handfuls of inquiries from our professionals, wanting to learn more about a career in clinical research.  Thus, we asked our vice-president of Onward CRS, Connie Colonnese, to answer some of the most common questions related to a clinical research career:

#1- What kind of experience do healthcare professionals need to get involved in clinical research?

There is a small hurdle for candidates who want to move into a Clinical Research (CR) arena but lack CR experience. It is similar to an RN who wants to work in an ER or ICU setting but doesn’t have previous experience. How do you go about getting the experience if all positions require previous experience?

Exposure to CR is the first step into the field and can occur:

• while at an academic setting, e.g., at a university where CR trials are being performed
• while working with MD’s, PhD’s or Pharm D’s that are conducting CR at their clinic or office location
• while caring for a patient who is hospitalized, or being cared for by a healthcare provider, and that patient is participating in a CR trial as a volunteer
• via certification courses (CCRA / CCRC), which are available online and through various institutions such as ACRP (Association for Clinical Research Professionals)

Certainly previous CR experience is always key, but specializing in a particular area of healthcare is also very beneficial.  If you obtain oncology, pediatric, ICU / ER, dialysis, transplant, data management / medical coding experience, you can market yourself to clinical research organizations (CROs), clinics and hospitals, as they will often be willing to hire and train candidates with these specialties who lack CR experience. Although a nursing or allied healthcare background is always helpful, many CR positions do not require a medical background.

#2- Where do you see the biggest needs for clinical research professionals?

Hospitals, clinics and academic settings tend to be our primary clients.

Currently, many of these clients are asking for clinical research (CR) nurses / nurse practitioners with oncology experience to fill CR nurse / coordinator positions. The required background preferably includes an OCN certification, as well as CR experience with pharma / biotech sponsored protocols. As cancer focused research continues to dominate the CR field, these positions will continue to be available.

While Onward CRS is very interested in speaking with RNs / NPs who have oncology and CR experience, we are also looking for candidates who lack the CR requirement but have a strong oncology background, as some of our clients are willing to provide the CR training element for the position.

#3- What are the advantages to doing a Clinical Research assignment on a contract basis?

There are numerous advantages to working on a contract basis; possibly the best being the opportunity to evaluate first hand if a CR setting is somewhere you feel comfortable and think it is the best way for you to reach your career goals before you commit long-term. While some of our clients are interested only in temp/contract professionals, many will consider moving a contract assignment to a perm position, especially after a successful experience with the candidate.

Additionally, contract positions allow for increased exposure to various therapeutic areas, as well as a diversified approach to clinical research depending on the setting and patient populations involved.