Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) also called clinical monitors or trial monitors are the ones who are responsible to oversee the clinical trials on behalf of the sponsor. They have several responsibilities including but not limited to Source Data Verification (SDV), Source Data Review (SDR), writing reports, scheduling monitoring visits, and ensure the site conducts the study based on the protocol and required guidelines. If you are considering CRA as a career, here are 5 reasons that shows you are a good fit for this position
You love solving problems
Reviewing patient charts in clinical trials is similar to solving a puzzle. The patient charts are the pieces of the puzzle and the clinical study protocol and your scientific background are the plan. So, you have to make sure the pieces are placed correctly.
You’re passionate about helping patients
If you like helping patients but you get attached easily to patients, a CRA job is a good fit for you. As a CRA you can help patients indirectly. Remember that the sponsor relies on you to make sure that the patients are safe, and their rights are protected.
Enjoy traveling
Visiting sites to do monitoring requires a lot of travel. By working with research sites, you will also get a chance to interact with different people.
You are Good at writing and presenting
As a CRA you should be able to present the clinical study to the research staff and train the site. On the other hand, you need to write a report after each monitoring visit. Although, the CTMS system facilitates writing reports but, having the writing skill is essential.
You are detail-oriented
In one of my previous articles, I explained how to indicate you have the required skill sets to perform Source Data Review (SDV). Being detail-oriented is not only required to perform SDV but it is also necessary for selecting a site. During the site selection visit, the CRA should write a report based on the observations. By asking relevant questions and checking the details which are required for a study, the CRA will write an unbiased report. The report is one of the main elements that the sponsor considers for selecting a research site for the study.
Overall, working as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) can be a very exciting job that offers great opportunities to travel, meet new people and play a pivotal role in patient safety and clinical data integrity.