Behind every successful clinical study are clinical research coordinators turning research opportunities into real-world impact. From supporting study teams and participants to ensuring clinical studies are conducted safely and effectively, trained coordinators are essential to advancing biomedical research and bringing new opportunities to communities across the world.
The IDeA State Consortium for Clinical Research Resource Center (ISCORE-RC), created by the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute, was created to strengthen that workforce by providing individuals in IDeA states with the training and tools needed to contribute to innovative and potentially life-saving clinical research.
This summer, ISCORE-RC has reached a major milestone with Savannah Alvarez from the Oklahoma Clinical and Translational Science Institute becoming the 100th trainee to graduate from its Clinical Research Coordinator Development Program (CRCDP).
“Reaching 100 graduates is an incredibly exciting milestone for ISCORE-RC,” said Meghan Reeves, ISCORE-RC director. “By expanding the clinical research workforce, we can ensure communities have the people and resources needed to run impactful clinical studies and benefit from the advances they make.”
“Every graduate represents another trained research professional who can bring new knowledge and skills to their participants,” said Debbie Lee, ISCORE-RC assistant director of didactics. “We are proud of what our graduates have accomplished and can’t wait to see how they impact clinical research in their communities.”
Since its launch, the CRCDP has helped individuals from a variety of backgrounds across the country build the skills needed to begin a clinical research career. For Savannah Alvarez, the program provided an opportunity to gain the knowledge and the confidence needed to succeed in a research setting.
“I started my role at Oklahoma Clinical and Translational Science Institute (OCTSI) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center with no clinical research experience. ISCORE-RC is a great resource for both new and old research coordinators as they have other programs to advance your education with more niche courses. I really liked how personalized their program can be based off your current level of experience,” said Alvarez.
With the demand for clinical research professionals continuing to grow, ISCORE-RC remains focused on training the next generation of coordinators and supporting graduates throughout their careers. ISCORE-RC offers professional development opportunities for graduates to continue building their knowledge and connections through advanced training in mentoring and pediatric research.
For Alvarez, the impact of ISCORE-RC extends beyond simply learning the mechanics of clinical research. The program also reinforced the importance of conducting research with compassion.
“During my ISCORE-RC training all the staff were extremely encouraging, kind, and helpful. I not only learned how we do things in research, but why we do them. The program is self-paced and easy to navigate. With a program like ISCORE-RC teaching new researchers, I believe research will be more efficient and compassionate. Compassionate researchers lead to more people participating in research, leading to more research and advances in medicine,” said Alvarez.
Those interested in learning more about becoming a clinical research coordinator can visit the ISCORE-RC Clinical Research Coordinator Development Program webpage.
ISCORE-RC Background
ISCORE-RC is funded by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U24GM150446) to serve as a catalyst to increase the number of clinical studies in IDeA states.