If you're a nurse, health care technician or paramedic looking for a different career path, one option is the new clinical research professional program at Gwinnett Technical College.

This unique program to train people interested in the latest medical advances and research related to human diseases may be just what the doctor ordered.

"We wanted to start some new biotechnology programs and our industry advisers told us this training was desperately needed," said Robert E. Powers, M.Div., Ph.D., director of bioscience at Gwinnett Tech. "Atlanta doctors and hospital administrators told us that they were forced to turn down grants because they couldn't find enough qualified people to run them."

The role of a clinical research professional is not as well known as many other health care occupations, but it is essential.

Any new drug, new application of an old drug or type of medical device used on humans must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. To secure approval, drugs go through several levels of research: Phase 1, animal trials; Phase 2, on a limited number of humans; and Phase 3, where a greater number of patients are treated for a reasonable amount of time.

"Pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment manufacturers usually contract with hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices or independent clinical research organizations to conduct the last phase of research," Powers said. Grants are given to principal investigators (usually physicians) who hire clinical research professionals to oversee the study.

"The CRP will interact with the physician, pharmaceutical company, patients and an Institutional Review Board," which monitors all human research, Powers said. "They are responsible for administering treatments, monitoring patient responses, identifying adverse reactions, collecting and delivering clinical data to the research agency and protecting patient safety and rights."

For that reason, Gwinnett Tech's new program will prefer students who have a health care background, clinical skills, know the terminology and have experience working with patients. The school is accepting about 20 students for its first class, starting this month.

Students may choose to earn the Basic CRP Certificate of Credit in two quarters (about 20 weeks) or the Advanced CRP Certificate in four quarters (about 40 weeks). Eventually, the school plans to offer an associate's degree.

All courses are taught at night, at a cost of about $420 per quarter. Most costs are covered by the HOPE Grant for Georgia residents who meet the requirements.

Rewards of research
A research biochemist who had to learn the basics of human research through trial and error, Powers has ensured that this program will equip future CRPs with the skills and knowledge for the job. From people working in the field, students will learn the philosophy and basic practices of clinical research, as well how to get a study started, take patient data and administer drugs. They'll learn about the regulatory agencies and laws, statistics, technical communications and bioethics.

"The job calls for someone who has a lot of initiative and can work independently. Good organization, communication and people skills are needed," Powers said.

The rewards are the intellectual stimulation and satisfaction of being involved in disease-fighting research and being able to follow your patients over a longer period of time (six months to two years, normally).

"Many health care professionals really enjoy being able to get to know their patients," Powers said.

With recent advances in genetics and medicine, the creation of more hightech drugs and devices and the trend toward more thorough testing, the job security is good. Salaries start around $30,000, but a CRP with experience can make up to $70,000; more if they work for a corporation.

To apply, call Gwinnett Tech admissions at 678-226-6485 or see www.gwinnetttechnicalcollege.com. To learn more about CRPs, see www.acrpnet.org.