Prepare for diverse opportunities in the clinical research field

Next program starts February 10, 2025
10% discount through Jan. 21, use coupon code EBIRD — REGISTER NOW!

• • Enter the clinical research field, advance in your job or build useful new skills
  • Program aligns with Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) exam content
  • 14-week online course — Feb. 10-May 19, 2025
    
  • Financial assistance options — Payment plan, scholarships, discounts, click here for details. 
  • Career resources and support to help you succeed
  • LEARN MORE — Join us January 14 for a virtual info session and instructor Q&A

The field of clinical research is focused on developing cost-effective ways to treat disease and increase quality of life through successful development and launch of new biologics, devices, and pharmaceuticals and by incorporating the science of genomics or personalized genetic prescribing.

Opportunities in the field are many and varied, ranging from the principal role of investigator to the supportive tasks surrounding regulatory compliance, scientific writing, marketing, data management and more. Employment settings include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device companies, contract research, hospitals, educational institutions and independent contractors. Click here for more information about career opportunities in the field.

The Clinical Trials Management Online Certificate is offered 100% online and provides a broad overview of key competencies necessary for a successful understanding and conduct of the new product development process in today’s environment. Course topics include:

• Clinical trials process, roles and responsibilities
• U.S. regulatory compliance
• Ethical and safety considerations
• Data management and coding principles
• Monitoring and oversight of clinical trials
• New product introduction, branding and marketing

About the clinical research and product development field

New product development requires a broad collaboration among science and technology professionals who keep current in the medical and regulatory arena. The potential opportunities in the field of clinical trials management range from the principal role of investigator to the supportive tasks surrounding regulatory compliance, scientific writing, marketing, and retrieval of accurate and reliable data for submission to regulatory agencies.

The research team collaborates across several business units, starting with the sponsor of the investigative new product, to the clinical site that collects ongoing data from subjects receiving the product, to the sponsor or designee who monitors the quality of the data being collected. Professionals conducting clinical trials primarily come from healthcare backgrounds.

Program details

Clinical Trials Management Certificate
10% early registration discount through Jan. 21, use coupon code EBIRD
LOCATION: ONLINE — This is a self-paced online course with some scheduled requirements.
SCHEDULE: Feb. 10-May 19, 2025
PRICE: $2,350, all materials included.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OPTIONS: Payment plan; early registration, Military, UD student/alum/employee, 2 or more (group).
CEUs: 2.0 (20 contact hours)

• Certification opportunity – ACRP exam
• Who should enroll in this program
• Career resources to help you succeed
• Detailed program outline
• Instructor — Erika Jerome, MA, MS ACRP-CP
• Prerequisites
• What our students say
• For more information

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Certification opportunity

The curriculum of the Clinical Trials Management Online Certificate covers core concepts consistent with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) certification exams, a valuable credentialing opportunity for clinical research professionals. For exam details, including eligibility requirements, visit Association of Clinical Research Professionals.

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Who should enroll in this program?

• Clinicians and other professionals currently involved in the clinical trials process
• Professionals with a strong science or healthcare-related background wishing to expand their knowledge in the clinical trials field

Clinical trials professionals are employed in a variety of settings:

• Pharmaceutical companies
• Biotechnology organizations
• Medical device companies
• Contract research organizations
• Hospitals
• Educational institutions
• Independent contractors

A clinical research professional may serve in the following roles:

• clinical investigator
• sub-investigator
• clinical researcher
• research nurse
• administrator
• coordinator
• data manager
• project manager
• IRB coordinator
• quality assurance specialist
• regulatory affairs specialist
• research pharmacist
• consultant
• educator in clinical trials management

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Career resources to help you succeed

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Detailed program outline

To earn the Clinical Trials Management Certificate, all three of the following modules must be successfully completed with a passing grade (60 or higher) and earn an overall final grade for the certificate of 70 or above.

COURSE FORMAT — This online course can be completed on a self-paced basis within the 14-week course timeframe. All quizzes/assessments are due by the last day of class. Optional synchronous component: three scheduled live-online chats.

1. Development: Setting Up the Environment for Success

This module provides an overview of the clinical and pre-clinical processes involved in setting up clinical trials, and the roles and responsibilities of those conducting and administering these processes. Topics include:

• Ensuring that a proposed investigative site is qualified and appropriate for use in a clinical trial
• Recruitment and retention of eligible study patients/participants
• Compliance with U.S. regulatory bodies and ethical considerations: safety, efficacy, privacy
• Comparison of human clinical testing models with animal testing models
• Setting up for collection and delivery of unbiased, concise, and comprehensive scientific data
• Code of conduct governing sponsors, sites, investigative personnel, and other affiliated parties
• Case studies of ethical and safety violations in clinical trials, and their effect on new product development

2. Implementation: Carrying Through the Plan

This module focuses on the processes involved in conducting safe, thorough, and reliable clinical trials. Topics include:

• Monitoring visits—purpose and importance of monitoring visits from the site and sponsor perspectives; roles and responsibilities of both site and sponsor in a successful outcome; essential points of a comprehensive site visit from both a regulatory and data management perspective; and what makes a highly proficient monitor
• Obtaining valid and reliable data—components of an appropriate database, validation of associated systems, coding principles, and the sequence of events leading to a database lock
• Emerging markets—how they contribute to the challenges of new product development, unique country/region mandates, effect of newly emerging markets in relation to the future of scientific experimentation
• Reporting of safety concerns—how to appropriately report them to regulatory agencies, regulatory timelines for reporting, case studies

3. Integration: Creating the Package

This module focuses on the steps necessary for completion and evaluation of clinical trials processes. Topics include:

• Ensuring that an investigative site has met all contractual and regulatory obligations
• Follow-up checklist: disposition of outstanding product supplies, report data, etc.
• Evaluation by the sponsor or agency regarding site and sponsor performance
• Audits surrounding an NDA (New Drug Application) filing, random and for-cause
• Introducing a product to health-care practitioners and consumers: market research, advertising principles, governmental rules and regulations, product branding
• Effectively reporting the outcome of clinical trials, including unbiased reporting to potential consumers regarding the results, limitations, and availability of the new product

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Instructor — Erika Jerome, MA, MS ACRP-CP

Erika Jerome is a certified and experienced manager of the Investigator-Sponsored Research Unit (ISRU) at Fox Chase Cancer Center, a leading academic institution in oncology research and care. She has been working in research for over 10 years, with a focus on clinical trial management, compliance and regulatory. In her current role, she oversees and manages the protocol development and monitoring team within the ISRU, ensuring the timely activation, sufficient monitoring and regulatory compliance of all investigator-sponsored trials at FCCC. She also maintains cross-functional collaborations with clinical team leads, physicians, and upper management, while providing consultation and support to her direct reports. She is passionate about advancing science and facilitating the development and dissemination of novel and effective therapies.

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Prerequisites

It is expected that students pursuing the Clinical Trials Management Certificate will have a strong science and/or health-care related background. In addition, two years of college level coursework is recommended. The certificate provides the fundamental knowledge to enter the field of clinical research.

Technology requirements

REQUIRED: laptop or desktop computer

• Required: a PC or Mac, laptop or desktop computer must be used to complete course activities like tests, quizzes, homework, or chats
• Required: high-speed Internet access
• Required: Mozilla Firefox browser, version 10 or newer
• Required: if not already installed on your computer, you may need to install these free plugins: Flash | Adobe Reader

OPTIONAL: mobile device

• Optional: most course video content can be viewed on a mobile device like a tablet, iPad or smart phone
• Mobile devices cannot be used to complete required course components like homework, tests, quizzes, chats

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What our students say

• “I came away with a complete overview of the drug development process.”
• “This online course far exceeded other online courses I have taken. I like that the lectures were videos. I have taken online course before and they were all just reading material and very little input from the instructors. It was mostly student conversations and they were all over the place. That is not teaching in my book.”
• “I felt like I was in a classroom. I like that [the instructor] takes her time and doesn’t rush through the lectures.”
• “I enjoyed learning and looked forward to each and every presentation! [The instructor] does a great job in thoroughly explaining key data for clinical trial management.”
• “[This course] was relevant to my current position as a CRA [clinical research associate]. Every module had a reference back to my daily position. This has been very useful.”
• “I like the format. [The instructor] is very knowledgeable, and delivers the information as if she is having an informative informal conversation with you.  It is perfect for retaining the material, making connections to other disciplines or already known information as well as inspiring thought and further research.”
• “I feel passionate about the clinical trial path, and I believe the knowledge I’m gaining will further my goal of pursuing opportunities to enter this field.”

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For more information

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