News

ACRP Clinical Research Leadership Scholarship

ACPR is delighted to share with COAPCR members that as part of their commitment to clinical research workforce development, ACRP has launched a new scholarship program to support clinical researchers on their pathway toward a master’s degree in clinical research. ACPR is now accepting applications for the newly founded ACRP Clinical Research Leadership Scholarship.

ACRP is writing to ask for help from academic programs with a master's degree to distribute this information for making students aware of the opportunity. You can learn more about the details here.  Briefly, the scholarship provides a total of three students enrolled in a clinical research master’s degree program with complimentary attendance at ACRP’s 2023 annual conference, April 28-May 1. These scholarships are estimated at a $2,500 value each. Letters of reference can be sent directly to Kara Bastarache at ACRP. The deadline for application is January 5, 2023.

Thank you for your support of ACRP, our mission to ensure excellence in clinical research, and our collective and collaborative efforts to build a diverse, research-ready workforce.

Kara Bastarache, CAE (she/her/hers)

Senior Manager of Educational Programs

Association of Clinical Research Professionals

(703) 253-6266

610 Madison Street | Ste 101 - #613

Alexandria, VA 22314 

www.acrpnet.org

Merck Journeys: Opportunities to Invent for Life – Clinical Trial Operations (ACRP Virtual Career Fair)

Merck and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) are holding a Virtual Career Fair on March 16^th from 12 to 1 PM ET.

Registration Information

• Deadline: March 15, 2021, 11:59 PM ET
• Site: https://acrpnet.org/event/webinar-merck-journeys-opportunities-to-invent-for-life-clinical-trial-operations/
• Cost: Free

Information

• Merck will have key talent presenting about the CRA role, Medical Writer and Clinical Sciences/study management.
• Explore how a career with Merck within our Global Clinical Trials Operations team will allow you to Invent, Impact, and Inspire. Merck is partnering with ACRP to host a Virtual Career Event on March 16, 2021 to share a holistic view of Merck, our culture, mission, and vision of helping to make a difference in the lives of patients we serve globally. You will hear from members of our team who will share their experience within our Global Clinical Trial Operations and share some of their career insights!

Speakers:

• LaShanda Gordon, Senior Informed Consent Specialist, Merck
• Gerri Cotton, Senior Clinical Research Associate, Merck
• Kristy Kort, Senior Program Lead, Clinical Sciences and Study Management – Oncology, Merck

Accreditation of Durham Technical Community College

Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Academic Programs in Clinical Research (CAAPCR), the Clinical Trials Associate Program at Durham Technical Community College based on Durham, North Carolina has been formally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).  This is only the second academic institution that offers a program in the area of clinical research to receive formal accreditation.  As the profession of clinical research continues to mature, formal academic program accreditation is becoming the criterion for quality in the preparation of tomorrow’s workforce.

First Academic Program in Clinical Research Accredited

First Academic Program in Clinical Research Accredited

At its board meeting in September 2018, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) voted unanimously to fully accredit the Arizona State University (ASU) Clinical Research Management Programs.  This is a major step forward in the recognition of Clinical Research as an academic discipline.  CAAHEP is the largest programmatic accreditor in the health sciences field and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in the US and internationally.  ASU provided, in a self-study report followed by a site visit, documentation that its Master’s level programs in Clinical Research Management, Clinical Research Management with Regulatory Science Concentration, and its Certificate Program in Clinical Research Management had met all of the standards required by the Committee on Accreditation of Academic Programs in Clinical Research (CAAPCR).  The curriculum component of the accreditation standards is based upon the Harmonized Core Competency Framework from the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency.  CAAPCR is sponsored by the Consortium of Academic Programs in Clinical Research and there are currently 7 additional academic programs in clinical research that have requested accreditation reviews.  For further information on the accreditation process and CAAPCR, please review the CAAPCR website or contact Stephen Sonstein, PhD; Chair, Committee on Accreditation of Academic Programs in Clinical Research at caapcr@gmail.com.

Harmonized Core Competency Framework

The Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency (JTF) invites public comment on the Draft Version 2.0 of the Harmonized Core Competency Framework. The decision to update the Framework is indicative of the JTF’s commitment to meeting the needs of clinical researchers globally. More than that, the decision recognizes the diversity of experiences across the clinical research community.  Public comment by June 30, 2017 extended to July 31, 2017.

Committee of Accreditation of Academic Programs in Clinical Research

Committee on Accreditation of Academic Programs in Clinical Research (CAAPCR) now has an information page available on the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) website.  Information on CAAPCR including governance and accreditation is available.

New Standards for Accreditation Advance Professionalization of Clinical Research

New Standards for Accreditation Advance Professionalization of Clinical Research  (Michael Causey, ACRP Blog, February 7, 2017)

Update on the work of CoAPCR member Stephen Sonstein's work on accredidation for academic programs in clinical research. According to the ACRP blog post: "Clinical research is taking another step toward professionalization with the anticipated approval  of new “Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Academic Programs in Clinical Research” by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), says Stephen A. Sonstein, PhD, professor and director of clinical research administration at Eastern Michigan University."

Survey Highlights Growing CRA Workforce Shortage

Survey Highlights Growing CRA Workforce Shortage (Michael Causey, ACRP Blog, December 13, 2016)

"Turnover rates in the clinical trial workforce continue to eclipse the 25% mark despite an average 7% salary spike, according to the 18th annual CRO Industry Global Compensation and Turnover Survey, conducted by HR+Survey Solutions, LLC. “I’m not surprised by these numbers,” says ACRP Workforce Innovation Officer Terri Hinkley, RN, BScN, MBA, CCRC, FACRP."

ACRP to Release First Ever Harmonized Core Competency Framework for Clinical Trial Monitors

ACRP to Release First Ever Harmonized Core Competency Framework for Clinical Trial Monitors (ACRP Press Releases, November 28, 2016)

The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) today announces plans to release a harmonized Core Competency Framework for Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) in December that for the first time ever will define the core competencies required of clinical trial monitors/CRAs within the eight core competence domains for clinical research professionals, as defined by the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competence (Learn More about the JTF).

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