CREMA (Clinical Research Education and Management Academy), a premier institute that offers state-of-the art education in clinical research, will open its third education centre in the country at Shahidullahjab, near Saket in New Delhi. The programs offered by the centre will benefit the graduates in life sciences, pharmacology and medicine.
The centre will offer Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research (APGDCR), which is a full time course.
"APGDCR has duration of one year, along with two months of internship in a reputed clinical research organization. It is a one-of its kind course, which can be done while working part time," said Vijay Moza, chairman, CREMA.
Right now, there are about 10,000 clinical research professionals working across 280 clinical research organisations in the country. According to a recent McKinsey study, India will need the services of 50,000 CR professionals by 2010-11. Global pharma majors would spend around $1.5 billion (Rs 6,000 cr) for drug trials in the country from around Rs 1,200 crore now, the study said.
"So a career opportunity in clinical research for a properly trained candidate is immense," said Moza.
About 50 clinical research organizations (CROs), site management organizations (SMOs), pharmaceutical companies and data management organizations (DMOs) operate out of the National Capital Region.
"These organizations are constantly in touch with institutions like CREMA for the need of quality manpower. Within seven months of our Mumbai and Bengaluru centre operations, reputed companies like Sun Pharma and Merck have absorbed CREMA students. This is mainly due to the confidence industry has in CREMA's curriculum, faculty and the model of education," Moza said.
Dr SM Sapatnekar, dean, CREMA, said, "Today the need is not only to create CR professionals, but also to develop the necessary managerial skills, which will help them in moving up the career ladder. CREMA has adopted a model that is best suited for building budding managers of tomorrow".
CREMA has designed a unique LIFSP (learning by industry -faculty -student partnership) model that establishes a close relationship between the three entities involved in the process - the student, the faculty and the industry. The institute has specially designed an industry-driven curriculum with the learner's objectives in mind. The curriculum will be upgraded on a regular basis to enable students and practitioners to stay up-to-date with prevailing practices and technologies impacting clinical research industry.