Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. President at Ohio State University | Twitter Website
Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. President at Ohio State University | Twitter Website
A program at The Ohio State University’s College of Nursing is equipping students for careers in the expanding field of clinical research. The Master of Clinical Research (MCR) program, an online interdisciplinary graduate degree, is one of only two in the United States to receive academic accreditation. It aims to prepare students for roles such as administrators and regulatory specialists within clinical research teams.
Associate Clinical Professor Jessica Fritter noted the success of graduates: “We have students who now work with the NIH. We have students who are working with Merck and the pharmaceuticals industry. … Some are holding some pretty prestigious positions.” She added that it has been rewarding to see them flourish and conduct their own research.
The MCR program addresses a national shortage in this workforce, exacerbated by COVID-19, according to Carolynn Thomas Jones, the outgoing director of the program. Graduates find careers as clinical research coordinators, project managers, regulatory compliance officers, and more.
The curriculum includes courses on research methods and statistics, ethics in human participant research, pharmacology science, medical product regulation, and business management. Faculty from both the Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy deliver these courses.
Students can specialize in either Clinical Research Management or Regulatory Affairs. The program concludes with a project where they apply best practices in clinical operations or administration.
Fritter emphasized that people from various backgrounds are welcome: “We have so many novices in our program. They don’t have to come with clinical research experience.” She explained that participants range from those seeking career changes to seasoned professionals aiming to expand their expertise.
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