No Better Time Than Now to Apply in Clinical!

There really is no better time than now to apply for roles within the Clinical sector. With a reported turnover of £88.9 billion in 2020, the life sciences sector is one of the UK's most lucrative industries. Joining the 268,000 people who are directly involved, has never been more exciting, especially within clinical research and clinical trials.

Clinical research and clinical trials are crucial steps in the development of new medications that can be safely administered by GPs, clinics, and hospitals to the thousands of patients who visit A&E every day and the many more who use the healthcare system in other ways. It's not only a fascinating and varied career but one that's crucial to healthcare systems globally.

Why Apply Now?

Currently, there is a huge demand for candidates within the Clinical sector due to the various moving parts involved in drug development, as well as new innovative research opportunities. If you decide to work in clinical research, you can be sure that you will be directly impacting people's lives, whether it be by finding novel ways to treat patients or by tackling problems like antibiotic resistance - especially since no new antibiotics have been discovered since 1984!

Clinical research studies financed by the National Institute for Health Research Network (NIHR) in 2019, were participated in by more than 870,000 people, a 16 per cent increase on the previous year. With a record-breaking 2,194 new studies being conducted and a strong emphasis on paediatric and mental health research, the NIHR also continues to fund high-quality NHS research. Now is the perfect time to participate in the ever-expanding range of trials within the industry, with increasing investment flowing into the clinical research sector.

Two possible routes into the Clinical sector are through Sponsors (such as Pfizer, Roche & BMS) and Contract Research Organisations (CROs), such as Syneos Health, PPD and IQVIA. CROs facilitate trials for many leading sponsors as it is usually expensive to carry out the trials in-house. CRO’s race to become innovative has allowed them to offer increased salary ranges, flexible working options and speedy application processes.   

In America, CROs lead the market by 85% - a highly attractive route for many candidates to get their foot in the door. Typical roles candidates apply for, and not limited to, are: Clinical Research Associate, Clinical Research Manager, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trial Manager and Clinical Specialist.

Are you the right fit?

Tenacity is a critical quality to possess in order to land an entry-level position in the sector. Since it is difficult to advance without experience, perseverance and industry knowledge are essential in this field. Candidates applying for a role within the clinical research space will need to obtain a Life Sciences Degree as this is highly beneficial in career progression. Both Sponsors and CROs look for candidates who possess strong organisation skills and are detail-oriented – a must for roles such as clinical research associate where there are various documents and processes involved with strict deadlines. It is highly advised to have a strong desire to learn. You'll find that new employment opportunities will become available to you as your knowledge and skills grow. Being dedicated to your own professional development might also help you stand out from the competition.

Conclusion

A career in clinical research is extremely varied, rewarding, and difficult at the same time. Additionally, applicants will have a great degree of responsibility because they will play a significant role in assessing the efficacy and safety of a treatment by working closely with patients. However, this industry offers fantastic prospects for job advancement, which in turn can open a variety of exciting employment options.

i-Pharm Consulting is a leading provider of staffing services in the Clinical space working with a large range of Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Contract Research Organisations.

Discover our life sciences jobs, visit our candidate's page or contact us today to see how we can unlock your potential.