Clinical Research

Clinical research may be part of graduate work, post graduate study or a doctoral thesis or dissertation. Ultimately it may lead to a career in clinical research. There are a few attributes or characteristics that make for an excellent clinical researcher. People skills are imperative as almost all clinical research involves volunteer or paid human subjects. Subjects who will undoubtedly have some degree of anxiety about being part of a trial or research project.

A clinical researcher must also be meticulous. In addition to the volumes of paperwork generally required in a clinical study this researcher will record results and observations that could have far reaching results in the scientific and medical communities. It is extremely important that information is accurate and complete. For the person with these attributes the world of clinical research is fascinating and lucrative and outstanding university results could place you in an excellent position for this job after graduation.

In fact as a career goal there are few better opportunities. The US Department of Labor has this to report about current (2010) clinical research salaries:

Job                                                                                      Hourly Rate (averages)     Annual Rate

Scientific Research and Development Services                   $44.58                                   $92,720

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools                 $29.89                                   $62,180 Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing                       $48.99                                   $101,900

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals                               $38.17                                   $79,390

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers        $45.27                                   $94,170

And about the future of clinical research the prognosis is also good:

The US Department of Labor…

“Employment of medical scientists is expected to increase 40 percent over the 2008-18 decade, much faster than the average for all occupations. Medical scientists have enjoyed rapid gains in employment since the 1980s—reflecting, in part, the growth of biotechnology as an industry. Much of the basic biological and medical research done in recent years has resulted in new knowledge, including the isolation and identification of genes. Medical scientists will be needed to take this knowledge to the next stage—understanding how certain genes function within an entire organism—so that medical treatments can be developed for various diseases. Even pharmaceutical and other firms not solely engaged in biotechnology have adopted biotechnology techniques, thus creating employment for medical scientists…

Employment growth should also occur as a result of the expected expansion in research related to illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, and avian flu, along with growing treatment problems, such as antibiotic resistance. Moreover, environmental conditions such as overcrowding and the increasing frequency of international travel will tend to spread existing diseases and give rise to new ones. Medical scientists will continue to be needed because they greatly contribute to the development of treatments and medicines that improve human health.” (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos309.htm)

Where to go from here

This data shows that it is not just a good move financially to consider clinical research but also in terms of your social contribution to the world. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be involved in clinical research that could cure disease or alleviate suffering? So where can you begin clinical research at university or college level?

The most obvious answer is in the sciences. No matter which clinical research path you may take in the future you will need a strong foundation in the sciences and a science or conjoint science degree. Some universities offer specific courses in clinical research and if it’s available to you that is definitely a great place to start. Otherwise courses in psychology, chemistry, biology and other human related sciences will undoubtedly have components of clinical research which you will be able to expand upon in graduate level study.