The role of the Clinical Research Coordinator in Clinical Trials

Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) are members of a team working in the health field of medical research and development. They arrange the research study site, recruit, screen and enroll clinical study participants; arrange follow-up visits; maintain and dispense study drugs and other supplies; and complete and ensure the accuracy of the data submitted to the study sponsor. A CRC works under the immediate direction and supervision of a physician/Principal Investigator whose research activities are conducted under FDA and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines. Most CRCs have some medical training prior to working as a CRC. After two years in the position a CRC has an opportunity to test to be credentialed as a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) which is the internationally recognize professional credential in the industry.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Most Clinical Research Coordinators work in hospitals, physician offices, biomedical research organizations and institutions, specialty disease centers and pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Clinical research encompasses many different healthcare settings and specialties. Saltzer Clinical Research currently has 4 full time CRCs conducting trials in the following therapeutic areas – Cataracts, Glaucoma, Atrial Fibrillation, Diabetes, Osteo Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis and Pediatric vaccines. For more information visit our clinical research page.

If you are involved in a clinical research trial, there are certain key people who will help facilitate your involvement in the trial. In this short series we will look at some of those positions essential to a successful clinical research trial.

Did you know that many physicians at Saltzer Medical Group are investigators in a clinical trial?

An investigator is the physician responsible for the conduct of the clinical trial at a trial site. If a study is conducted by a team of individuals at a trial site, the investigator is the responsible leader of the team and may be called the Principal Investigator. Guidelines mandate that a sponsor shall select only investigators qualified by education, training, and experience to assume responsibility for the proper conduct of the trial, and evidence of these requirements through a current curriculum vitae. There are currently 10 physicians, in various therapuetic areas at Saltzer Medical Group, that are principal investigators for clinical trials. These trials are sponsored by various pharmaceutical companies and offer exposure to new and promising treatments right here in Nampa, Idaho. for more information go to our clinical research page.