Addressing the Clinical Research Workforce Shortage
By Renuka Agarwal
Introduction to the Workforce Shortage in Clinical Research
Like many of you, I fell into clinical research by accident. It is through my former role in clinical trial solutions at Tempus that I became aware of how important clinical research staff are to trial success and how large the gap is between employer expectations and workforce realities. Clinical research professionals are the most compassionate and hardworking individuals I have had the privilege of working with. It is our responsibility to support them in their careers for the sake of research, discovery, and patient access to care.
The Disconnect in Clinical Research Workforce Development
“A glaring disconnect is evident between the visionary discourse on how to revolutionize the clinical research enterprise and the sober recognition that the operationalization of any such vision rests on the shoulders of a workforce that’s in dire straits” (Freel et. al., 2023).
While most clinical trial discussions focus on improving patient recruitment and raising awareness of trials, there is limited focus on addressing the widening gap between supply and demand for competent staff (Freel et. al., 2023).
Reasons Behind the Workforce Shortage
There are many drivers behind the clinical research workforce shortage, but our team at UpTrials believes the following drivers carry significant weight:
- Evolving Definition of Clinical Research Competence
As trials become more complex and patient populations more narrowly defined, employers need specialized talent. The “one size fits all” clinical research professional model no longer works for today’s trial portfolios. - Ineffective Hiring Methods
Current hiring methods don’t easily enable sourcing of competent staff. Employers spend hours screening hundreds of resumes, only to find a few that meet their needs. While many clinical research roles are entry-level, they are highly nuanced between employers, making it difficult for third-party solutions to source effectively. - Fragmented Clinical Research Market
The clinical research market is highly fragmented, limiting job discovery. Job seekers often visit the career pages of known employers but remain unaware of other potential employers that may be a better fit. - Overlooking Qualified Candidates
Many qualified candidates are screened out due to the common two-year work experience requirement. Candidates with relevant experience, such as ex-US doctors or nurses from non-research settings, are often overlooked.
How UpTrials is Addressing These Challenges
At UpTrials, we tackle these issues through our online clinical research talent marketplace. Our platform algorithmically matches employers with prescreened clinical research talent based on role-specific criteria. This approach reduces time to fill vacancies and improves new hire success and retention. Additionally, UpTrials allows professionals to discover jobs and market themselves effectively while offering opportunities to network, an important aspect of career growth.
Conclusion and Contact
If you are a clinical research employer or professional interested in using UpTrials or sharing your thoughts on this topic, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Wishing you all a happy holiday season and expressing gratitude for your contributions to the industry and patients.
Sources
Stephanie A Freel, Denise C Snyder, Kara Bastarache, Carolynn Thomas Jones, Mark B Marchant, Laura A Rowley, Stephen A Sonstein, Karen M Lipworth, and Susan P Landis. “Now is the time to fix the clinical research workforce crisis.” Clinical Trials. Vol. 20(5) 457-462. 2023.
Renuka Agarwal CEO UpTrials
Renuka Agarwal is the Founder and CEO of UpTrials, a software solution to help clinical research employers hire better talent faster. UpTrials algorithmically matches employers with prescreened research talent for full-time and contract roles. Renuka founded UpTrials to address the clinical research understaffing she experienced while at Tempus, a precision medicine company, as a Senior Director in Business Development for Clinical Trial Solutions. Renuka also has technology and recruiting experience at LinkedIn and startup experience at TonoTech, a medical device company she founded and led. Renuka’s other relevant experience includes life sciences consulting at Z.S. Associates, strategy at Genentech, and investment banking at Goldman Sachs. Renuka holds her BA from Columbia University and her MBA from University of Chicago Booth.
Myra Fonville is the Executive Editor of Interim Visits magazine. Myra is a former pharmacist who has worked in the clinical research industry for the past 28 years. She brings a wealth of knowledge about pharmacy, pharmaceuticals and clinical research. Myra is very passionate about diversity and health equity which is one of the primary reasons Interim Visits is educating the public about the importance of clinical trials.