Clinical research tests the safety and effectiveness of drugs in a healthcare environment
Basic research aims to understand some aspect of biology at a very basic level
In science, “research” is a broad term that can be used to encompass any systematic investigation into materials and sources that seeks to establish facts and reach new, peer-reviewed conclusions.

In medical research, there are three principal areas of research: basic, clinical and translational.

Basic research
Basic research represents the crucial, curiosity-driven starting point for scientific inquiry. The aim of basic research is to advance our fundamental understanding of a certain concept by creating, supporting or refuting theories that explain observed phenomena.

Clinical research
Clinical research is a branch of healthcare science that explores how safe and effective novel treatments, medications, medical devices and diagnostic techniques are when administered to patients. By running stringent clinical trials, researchers monitor patients’ progress and measure the efficacy and/or benefits of a new drug.

Translational research
Translational research is an interdisciplinary branch of the biomedical field that brings together specialists from a number of areas — broaching the divide between basic and clinical research. It builds on the initial findings of basic research to advance the applications of a discovery.

Clinical research involves human participants and helps to translate the findings of basic research into new treatments and medications that benefit patients.

The most common type of clinical research study is a controlled clinical trial.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a clinical trial is “any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes. Interventions include but are not restricted to drugs, cells and other biological products, surgical procedures, radiological procedures, devices, behavioural treatments, process-of-care changes, preventive care, etc.”

Clinical trials are broken down into different stages, called phases. These increase in size and scope as the study progresses.

A Phase I trial, for example, may examine the side effects of a new medication and only involve a dozen people. A Phase IV trial, on the other hand, may involve thousands of participants and test whether a new medication is better than existing treatments.

All clinical operations are subject to international ethical, scientific and practical standards. As such, it’s up to clinical research associates to ensure that Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is adhered to when conducting a trial.

Other therapeutic areas that can fall under clinical research include epidemiology, physiology and pathophysiology, health services, education, and mental health.

With competitive salaries and a healthy future outlook, clinical research represents a great career choice. If you’re interested in building on the latest scientific findings and ensuring novel therapeutic treatments and medications are safe and effective, this might just be the career for you.

The clinical trials industry employs millions of people worldwide, with excellent job opportunities in locations as far afield as North America, Europe, India, Singapore, and Australia. Given that the global clinical trials market is expected to reach USD 68.9 billion by 2026, it’s little wonder that there is a rising demand for trained professionals in the field.

As a minimum requirement, you’ll need a graduate or postgraduate degree in a relevant field. Aside from clinical research, this can include fields as diverse as biochemistry, pharmacology, nursing, epidemiology, physiology, chemistry, and even pre-medical studies.

While it’s technically possible to find work in clinical research without the relevant qualifications (working up from an administrative role, for example), pursuing this route carries no guarantees of employment.

When studying towards a career in clinical research, it’s also worth gaining as much research work experience in a laboratory or clinical trial setting as possible. Clinical research internships are one such way to enhance your skills and employability.

Type of clinical research jobs include:

Biostatistician
Clinical Data Manager (CDM)
Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
Clinical Research Coordinator
Clinical Research Scientist
Clinical Trial Manager
Clinical Trial Monitor
Pharmacovigilance Associate (PVA)
Regulatory Affairs Manager (RAM)

Working in clinical research is hugely rewarding, challenging and varied. For more on the ins and outs of working in the industry, feel free to reach out to one of our consultants for a chat about your career goals.