Clinical Research Education & Management Academy (CREMA), a premier institute offering state-of-the-art education in the field of clinical research, plans to set up its fourth campus in the prime location of Banjara Hills in Hyderabad. The campus, which will start functioning from March 2009, will be accommodated in 7,000 sq ft area with modern facilities like Wi-Fi, a computer lab, library, etc.
The institute will offer one year Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research, Pharmacovigilance and Clinical Data Management. CREMA has campuses operating successfully in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi.
"Hyderabad, an emerging city with many leading Pharma companies, Healthcare institutions and Clinical Research Organizations (CRO), is a significant destination as far as clinical research is concerned. However, the city faces a shortage of institutions offering quality education & training in Clinical Research. Our aim is to fill this gap by offering the best education in clinical research and an entry into a world of high job opportunities," said Vijay Moza, chairman, CREMA.
According to Moza, clinical research industry has been virtually unaffected by the current gloomy economic scenario. "In our last batch, even before the completion of their courses, over 70 per cent of CREMA's students were absorbed and successfully placed in reputed companies," Moza said.
Industry leaders like Sun Pharma, TCS, Cognizant, Novartis, Piramal Life sciences, Quintiles, Sanofi Aventis & many more have recruited CREMA's students.
All the programs offered by CREMA are in collaboration with the UK-based William Harvey Research Ltd, a reputed pharmacological research institution set up by Nobel Laureate Sir John Vane. CREMA also offers online courses endorsed by Canada-based Clinical Research international. "Therefore courses at CREMA are endorsed by the industry and also globally well recognized," said Dr R Nadig, deputy dean & president Operations, CREMA.
Understanding industry views, CREMA courses are designed with special focus on Management & Soft skills through its curriculum, which is essential in today's corporate world.
According to Dr R Nadig, demand for clinical research professionals in India will increase manifold and is estimated to reach to 50,000 clinical research professionals by 2012.
According to a recent study by McKinsey & Co., global pharma majors would spend around $1-1.5 billion (Rs 4,800 crore to Rs 7,200 crore) for drug trials in the country in the next three to four years, from around $300 million (Rs 1,440 crore), now.
India has been considered as a hub for clinical trials by pharma MNCs due to its high quality and less expensive work resources. The recent economic recession, which has hit the West significantly, has further enhanced the necessity for MNCs for carrying out clinical trials in the country.