Assessment of Applied Learning for Clinical Research Workforce Development

Clinical research is a rapidly growing $150 billion industry employing over 4 million workers in all stages of research. Early-career clinical research professionals, often working as clinical monitors, clinical data managers, or clinical research coordinators (CRCs), are crucial to the conduct of meaningful research and have the capacity to influence the scientific integrity of medical research (Brandt, 2012). These operational roles have evolved to include complex and specialized functions. However, relatively few institutions provide an infrastructure for training, career development, or continuing education. To date, education and training for principal investigators has evolved through the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program (CTSA) funded by the National Institutes of Health. Unfortunately, this training has not always reached other clinical research professionals. For example, in a 2012 survey, 63% of academic institutions did not offer programs for CRC development. Research on the professional development of clinical research professionals, particularly early-career individuals, is scant. The primary aim of the proposed project is to conduct a needs assessment of applied learning approaches used in academic programs to prepare of future clinical research professionals (i.e., students) for the workforce.

Assessment of Applied Learning for Clinical Research Workforce Development Grant