Linda Murray is a clinical research associate at Quintiles in Edinburgh, UK
Linda Murray never meant to end up in clinical research. After graduating in parasitology from the University of Glasgow, she worked as a lab technician and then as a research assistant at the university. After six years she was ready for a change.
A friend who worked as a clinical research associate (CRA) sparked Linda鈥檚 interest in the role. A couple of speculative CVs later, she was offered the role of a clinical trial assistant (CTA) at Kendel, a contract research organisation based in Glasgow. Helping make sure everything ran smoothly 鈥済ave me a really good overview of the whole clinical research process鈥�, she says, but after six months, she was ready to progress and the company agreed to train her up to be a CRA.
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Now working in the Edinburgh offices of Quintiles, another contract research organisation, Linda says she has two types of working day 鈥� those at the site of a drug trial and those spent catching up in the office. At the site of a trial, her duties include checking through the participants鈥� medical records and comparing this to the electronic form where the notes from each trial visit are recorded. 鈥淲e have to make sure that the data is of the highest quality and also follow up on factors that might influence the study data鈥� she says.
Good people skills are essential for the job, as discussing how the study is progressing with the study鈥檚 principal investigator and the nurses is a big part of each visit. 鈥淥ur role is to help support the site in how it conducts clinical research鈥� she explains. 鈥淭his may involve looking at improvements to procedures to help reduce the burden on staff of conducting the research, and also help staff with recruitment via training or resources鈥�.
Linda also meets with the pharmacist to check the drug under test is being handled and dispensed properly and stored at the correct temperature. This might sound overfussy, but every aspect of a clinical trial needs to adhere to strict criteria if the drug is to be approved by the regulatory authorities. 鈥淵ou have to follow the clinical trial protocol and make sure that there are no deviations from it,鈥� says Linda. 鈥淭he book of good clinical practice is almost like a bible for clinical trials.鈥�
Back in the office, anything that was discussed or decided during the visit needs to be documented and confirmed in a letter to the trial site. Linda also updates the trials鈥� tracking systems 鈥� software which helps her keep on top of each of the trials she is involved in.
鈥淥rganisational skills are key,鈥� says Linda, who is currently working on five phase III trials across oncology, cardiology and neurology, 鈥渁s is good time management, because each study has its own demands and deadlines.鈥�
鈥淚 love the variety in the job,鈥� she adds. 鈥淵ou get to meet really different people and the week goes so quickly because you are never really in one place for long.鈥�
The downside to all that variety is the need for meticulous planning to keep everything running smoothly. 鈥淚t is absolutely essential to be well organised and plan ahead so that study deadlines can be met and the study sponsor can move to the next stage of the development process without delay鈥�.
Having to visit trial sites mean that travel is a big part of any CRA鈥檚 role. 鈥淚 am a regional CRA for Quintiles now, which means I just have to travel to sites in Scotland, but my previous post was UK-wide so I went all over the country,鈥� she says. That meant many 4 am starts. But if you can see travel as a perk of the job, all the better. 鈥淚t is not a 9 to 5 job, but that is what makes it interesting.鈥� Linda advises. 鈥淚f it suits your personality, then you could thoroughly enjoy it.鈥�
For more clinical research case studies, check out Alex Godwood, a biostatistician at MedImunne and Vinita Gurung, a junior doctor who took time out to do a clinical placement.