ClinDevConsultant

The road to becoming a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) is rarely a straight line, but it is a defined path! 🛣️✈️

​Many assume you can jump straight into a field-based CRA role after graduation, but as this infographic shows, foundational experience is key. 🔑

​Here is the typical journey broke down:
1️⃣ Start at the Site Level: Gaining 1–2 years of hands-on experience as a CRC, Research Nurse, or Assistant is crucial for understanding how trials actually work on the ground.
2️⃣ Bridge the Gap: Transition roles like an In-House CRA or Site Support Specialist are fantastic ways to move from the clinical site side to the sponsor/CRO side without the full travel commitment yet.
3️⃣ The Goal: With that solid foundation, you are ready for the field-based CRA role, handling on-site monitoring and managing site performance.
​SAVE this post if you are planning your next career move in clinical research! 📌

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Too late now

Just everything from my work trip (monitoring visit) to New York City. Receipts and all if that's interesting!

- Pretty solid and also good to eat alone
ny - perfect, high quality lunch near my site. Under $35
Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza - very spacious stay for nyc hotel
nyc - not too sweet. But I crashed after this.
- can't go wrong with their course meals

What would you like to see on my page?

Which restaurant would you want to try?

Unpopular opinion:
Totally relate to this as I am in my 30s now.
I used to want to progress in the bigger better job title every few years with bigger pay bump but honestly, once you have a good balance of pay, autonomy, and work life, it's cool to stay where you are.

Why risk when things aren't broken?

Though it may be tempting with recruiters knocking out LinkedIn inbox every week, once you find a good place, perhaps just consider staying put. 10-25k bump may be not worth it.

One of my favorite thing to eat when traveling is seared duck breast at an authentic French restaurant.
La Voile did not disappoint. The duck was perfectly cooked. The ambiance was perfect. Felt like I briefly transported to time when I went to Paris. This place was a gem!
Would go again.

This is too real...😅😭

When in PGH, .gaucho is a must. My fav restaurant in Pittsburgh. Their chimichurri adds so nuch flavor. Their wood-fire grilled steaks at cooked to perfection.
I'll be here again next week.

How exciting!!
Elon Musk's brain implant company is now
hiring a clinical trial director, a sign the startup is closing in on long-promised human trials.
Neuralink's implant has already allowed monkeys to play video games with their thoughts alone, according to the billionaire. The job listing says the new hire would oversee human trials of the device.
A series of other roles, including a clinical trial coordinator, are also up for grabs.

Credit/repost: Bloomberg

It's a busy season in the clinical research world! For those who are in the start-up phase and are activating sites left and right, you got this! Take some time to appreciate one another for the hard work they are doing!

CTAs are working tirelessly with the sites to ensure the IP approval package and startup docs are flawless to be sent for approval.
CRAs/Site Managers are planning and preparing for numerous initiation visit presentations at short notices while managing their other protocols and workloads.
Trial managers are ensuring all things are going smoothly and on time per contract for all the trials that they manage.
Line managers are ensuring their staffs are being supported and no one is falling through the cracks.

Take some time to say "thank you" this week. Appreciation and encouragement can go a long way sometimes!

"Asian Americans represent five percent of the United States population—a total of 22.9 million individuals. For decades, this population has been significantly underrepresented in clinical research due to a variety of missing factors, including trust, willingness to participate, and culturally competent communication."

Thank you to PRA, now part of ICON, for sharing this very insightful article.

I agree with this article as and many pharma such as focuses on diversity and inclusion of various population make up of USA, we need to consider the Asian American population. This also means more Asian American clinical researchers getting involved in this industry to bring trust and awareness of ongoing clinical trials would not only strengthen trial data but also potentially improve and save many lives of suffering Asian Americans.