In an effort to offer quick access to qualified and trained clinical research professionals, training institutes like CREMA and Lotus Clinical Research Academy (LCRA) have now teamed up with reputed Universities in the country to help the industry meet the manpower requirements.

According to Dr Ramananda S Nadig, dean and chief operating officer, CREMA, pharma companies are looking to hasten the drug development process, CROs are scrambling to have easy access right talent. This is where clinical research training centres are working to groom candidates as industry ready professionals at a faster pace.

India is now at the helm of clinical research and speed is the essence of this sector. This is where the need to provide comprehensive one-year post graduate courses is becoming more popular to satiate the industry’s instant needs. Recently, CREMA entered into a memorandum of understanding with Jaipur National University to offer one year advanced post graduate course in clinical research at its campuses at Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Jaipur. While Jaipur National University will admit the candidates after an entrance test, CREMA acts as the service provider.

Since the clinical research education has not come under the purview of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), training centres can rework on the syllabus to provide an intensive curriculum that is industry accepted and university accredited. The University tag endorses the training centres as reputable learning hubs too, said Dr Nadig.

In 2007, LCRA tied up with Birla Institute of Technology to offer MS in clinical research and pharmacovigilance at the Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi.

“Although there are distinct advantages in a one-year post graduate diploma course in clinical research for both the industry and candidate like faster availability of trained manpower and quick employment opportunities, yet the merits two year post graduate course cannot be denied. There is no doubt that the two year information-learning spectrum and wider syllabus structure outweighs the one-year course,” said Dr Saral Thangam, Technical Director, Lotus Clinical Research Academy.

Estimated shortage in the Indian clinical research industry is at 65,000, of which 15,000 are for pharmacovigilance jobs alone. “Global demand is annually around 2.50 lakh trained professionals of which only four per cent of the requirements is met,” said Vijay Moza, chairman, CREMA.

Going by the shortfall of trained clinical research personnel and instant need for industry, one year courses are offered by both Lotus and CREMA.

“A visible trend in the one year course is the intensive practical sessions and live projects. Such efforts allow the industry to be confident of the candidate selected for the job. We need to move with the industry needs and ensure that students employable meet the standards set by the industry,” said Sudhir Pai, managing director, Lotus Clinical Research Academy.