A Success Story in Clinical Research

Lillian M.
Clinical trial manager
Pharmaceutical company

Clinical research career provides a sense of achievement

Setting up a clinical trial on a grand scale gives Lillian M. a tremendous sense of achievement. Being a clinical trial manager at a medium-sized pharmaceutical company gives her the job satisfaction she never experienced in her former job as a lab researcher, developing assays for drug discovery. "I hated lab work,” she confesses. Without a PhD, her opportunity for advancement in research was limited. Even worse, lab work lacked the connection to people that she wanted. "Science is too abstract for me,” she explained.

A great feeling. When a friend told her about careers in clinical operations, Lillian thought this might be a fit for her. She started taking classes in the UCSC Clinical Trials Design and Management certificate program and soon made an internal transfer at her company out of the lab and into the field, where she has the opportunity to see results. "During a trial, when you see patients having partial or complete response to the drug, you know the drug is working—that's a great feeling,” says Lillian.

As a clinical operations manager, she has a lot of responsibility. She selects and sets up clinical trial sites, which involves negotiating with contract research organizations and vendors, identifying authors for study documentation and reviewing trial-related documents. She also coordinates the many stakeholders in a trial and facilitates meetings, meetings, meetings.

A keen eye and a thick skin.
Lillian loves her work, but it isn't for everyone, she says. It takes a combination of characteristics to make a good clinical trial manager, including an acute attention to detail and organization, superior time management skills, and, in her words, "a thick skin.” "Sometimes it feels as if everyone is after you at the same time,” says Lillian, with a smile. "You have to be good at communicating with people.” It also may help to be an expert luggage packer. "The traveling is a challenge for me now that I have a baby,” admits Lillian.

Both the challenges and the rewards are great in clinical research. "You have to ask yourself, does it fit your personality, do you really want to do it,” she concludes.

"The UCSC Clinical Trials Design and Management Certificate program can get you well prepared for a clinical research career.” – Lillian M.
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