The Smt C H M College, Ulhasnagar, has organised a one-day seminar on 'Clinical research-current scenario' to create awareness among the students on clinical research on February 3, 2007.

According to a college release, nearly 325 students from 15 collages affiliated to the Mumbai and other deemed universities participated in the seminar. The participants included students specializing in science, technology and pharmacy.

Handling a session, Dr A K Agarwal, principal, ICRI Mumbai, discussed the need for clinical trials, outsourcing of the trials to India and the job prospects. He said that it's high time the students were trained in the field of clinical research. Agarwal also utilized the seminar to intimate the participants of postgraduate and diploma courses in clinical research and the course contents.

The seminar also featured a session on the technicalities of clinical trials by Dr Aarti Borakar, director of QA iGATE. She cut a clear picture about the various phases involved in the conduction of clinical trials. Pointing out that trained personals were inevitable to counduct each phase of the clinical trial, Borakar emphasised on the need to train the students for conducting the trials and data management.

The most attracting aspect of the seminar was a session by Dr.Chandra Babu, senior medical writer, Novartis India Ltd, who provided the students with specific information regarding the job prospects at every step of the clinical trials. He also discussed about the various steps involved in complete clinical trial of a drug, qualifications necessary for the job and type of work involved. The students were also introduced to the field of clinical research as a career option.

Dr Padma Deshmukh, organising committee convener, who delivered the valedictory speech, said a course in clinical research would be introduced at Smt C H M College from the next academic year.