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Clinical research associate: Lynn

This Case Study belongs to Clinical research associate.

Lynn has a biology degree and a PhD in Molecular Biology and feels that these qualifications taught her important skills such as project management, good time management, the ability to prioritise and a general medical understanding of disease states. Lynn chose a career as a clinical research associate (CRA) as she wanted to work in a medical field but not in a lab. Lynn believes that it is useful but not essential to have a scientific background. ‘Whilst a medical degree is certainly not required, you will need to be able to understand the basis of diseases, etc. However, I know good CRAs who don’t have a scientific background and who have put the extra work in to get up to speed.' After finishing her PhD, Lynn applied directly to a large CRO, although it is now possible to get graduate trainee positions with these organisations.

On a daily basis, Lynn’s role involves organizing study-site staff, collating data, attending investigator meetings, adhering to study budgets and problem solving. Lynn describes her role as being multifaceted. ‘We have input into study documentation, case report forms, prescriptions and drug accountability logs. We negotiate sites’ contract and budget restrictions as well as reviewing their suitability for a study. CRAs train and support the sites during the study, monitor the data collected and are responsible for closing the site at the end of the study.' According to Lynn, senior CRAs train junior CRAs as well as becoming responsible for submitting ethics applications and assisting with the project management of the study.

Lynn really enjoys the variety that working as a CRA offers. ‘Getting out of the office to visit sites means a CRA doesn’t work in front of a computer every day of the week.' However, travelling during busy work periods can become tiring, and ‘you can feel you are just chasing people to get the job done as you are only managing the process and not actually collecting the data itself from the patient.'

Lynn advises those considering a career in this field to gain a thorough understanding of what the role involves and the process of drug discovery. It is important to be flexible as many roles can lead to working as a CRA. She states that people often work in data management or regulatory affairs first before becoming a CRA. Lynn advises candidates to ‘be enthusiastic’ as past experiences can be used to demonstrate the skills needed for a CRA, i.e. time management, ability to form good working relationships and being a team player. Lynn also encourages candidates to use the Institute of Clinical Research (ICR) which has lots of information for CRAs and is worth joining when job hunting. 'Most CRAs, including myself, are members as they provide good training and it certainly looks good on the CV when applying for jobs.'

Case Study sourced by Eleanor Stanley of The College of Law, 11 November 2008.