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Clinical research associate: Career development

Career structures vary from company to company and are not always very clear-cut, although some companies have staff assigned to look at the career development of clinical research associates (CRAs). How quickly a CRA can move up the grades depends on a range of factors including motivation, ability and previous experience. CRA positions are generally set at three levels (though this can be four levels in some companies), each with increasing responsibility:

• Level 1: visiting investigative centres, setting up and organising clinical trials, liaising with centre staff and undertaking the majority of the necessary administration;
• Level 2: more involvement in activities such as protocol development, coordination of ethics committees, design of case record forms (CRFs) and writing detailed research reports;
• Level 3: managing projects, possibly even on an international scale, as well as supervising, mentoring and training junior staff.

CRAs within a contract research organisation can build up and widen their experience with a variety of sponsor pharmaceutical companies in different therapeutic areas and in different phases of clinical research. This could lead to a move to work for a pharmaceutical company.

Most companies have clinical trials management/executive positions, which is the next step for an experienced CRA. Some companies prefer PhD holders for senior posts. For positions such as medical adviser or medical director, a medical degree is usually required.

AGCAS

Written by Eleanor Stanley, The College of Law

Last updated:

November 2008

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