Covance employees in the regional study coordinator (RSC),
or associate project manager, role within our Global Project Management
Department receive extensive training before managing the day-to-day activities
of a clinical trial at a regional level.
Managing local laboratory operations and serving as the
bridge between our internal departments and various clinical studies, RSCs must
manage competing interests and communicate and articulate critical information
to each department and amongst the project management team.
In 2015, South Korea introduced legislation designed to protect human health and the environment from the impact of chemicals. With an estimated 44,000 chemicals in use in South Korea and about 300 new chemicals marketed annually, registrants and regulators will be kept busy assessing the risk posed to humans, animals and the environment. This legislation was revised to impose stricter controls on a broader range of substances, effective January 1, 2019.
Environmental fate (eFate) studies are well established for crop protection chemicals and pharmaceuticals and are becoming commonplace for industrial chemicals, but what are the key considerations for setting up and running them? Find out here.
Many novel oncology treatments have brought new hope to
people living with cancer, but these breakthrough medicines weren’t developed
overnight. On average, it takes at least 10 years to create a treatment “from molecule
to medicine.”
As a Study Director at Covance, Amy supports a key part of
this process by helping pharmaceutical and biotech companies thoroughly
evaluate their oncology drug candidates at the early stages.
National African American/Black History Month recognizes the
accomplishments of African Americans who have made a difference in our society.
Many
notable African American physicians, engineers, scientists, and nurses have
contributed to medical and scientific breakthroughs and continue to serve as
role models for students of color interested in pursuing careers in the STEM (science,
technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
Peg Biomedical Co., Ltd. (Peg Bio), is a Suzhou, China-based biopharmaceutical company specialized in developing innovative medicines for metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic hepatitis.
While business between Peg Bio and Covance first started in 2014, the strength and depth of our relationship was highlighted in Spring 2019. In May that year, more than 400 Covance employees relocated to a new facility – the Aland Center in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park of Shanghai’s Pudong District- and Dr. Michael Xu, CEO of Peg Bio, was invited to deliver a speech for the new site opening ceremony. In his address, Dr. Xu expressed his gratitude for Covance’s service delivery, “among all of the collaborators, Covance is probably the best time‑keeping CRO we have worked with.”
Covance
celebrated the grand opening of its new flagship Genomics Lab in Indianapolis,
Indiana on February 14th. Co-located with its established, industry-leading
Central Laboratory and Bioanalysis Lab, the site provides greater testing
efficiencies and comprehensive scientific solutions to help biopharmaceutical
companies develop therapies faster and with a greater probability of success.
The new Genomics Lab adds 16K ft2 of new, dedicated laboratory space to deliver applied genomics solutions from single target to whole genome analysis. The laboratory also consolidates exploratory studies and biomarker development, patient management (CAP/CLIA) laboratory testing and Companion Diagnostic (CDx) development.
While International Women’s Day (IWD) is officially recognized on March 8, the collective action and shared ownership necessary to drive gender parity is a constant undertaking. Last year, our drug development team located in India took the “Balance for Better” theme to heart. This year, they’re planning for an even more impactful 2020 that’s part of a commitment to make a positive difference for women across all of our global sites.
The process of ensuring clinical trial records are accurate
and fully reconciled between laboratory and clinical data sources can be a
point of frustration for today’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Whether the data is coming from a contract research organization (CRO), a
central laboratory or third-party laboratories, the need for timely
availability of clean data based on unique sponsor format/industry requirements
has become extremely complex.
“As the complexity of today’s studies grow, sponsors are
often working with a greater number of laboratories in their studies,”
explained Richard Cesarski, SVP, Patient Solutions, Safety and Data Sciences. “While
these labs are specialists in sample management and generating results, their
standard report formats may not be aligned to individual sponsor requirements.”
Recognizing this gap between sponsors, their clinical
partners and the labs, Covance has launched Laboratory Data Management FSPx
(Lab FSPx), a new solution within its Functional Service Provider (FSPx)
offering.
As a biology major, Tai had always planned on being a
medical doctor, but when she reached her senior year in college she decided to
explore other professions.
“My family had always told me, ‘you will be a doctor,’ and I
didn’t think twice about it. But when I was finishing my undergraduate degree,
I realized I wanted to figure out another way to make a difference with my
career.”
After graduating, Tai explored positions in a variety of
areas, including a volunteer position with the local humane society. At the
shelter, she met another volunteer who was in a program to become a veterinary technician,
and who encouraged her to learn more about the line of work.
“I enjoy working with animals, and a career in the veterinary field seemed like something that I could be excited about getting up for every morning,” Tai shared.
Starting a career with Covance, the drug development
company of LabCorp
As she was completing her veterinary technology program, Tai
needed to decide where, such as an animal hospital, research laboratory, animal
shelter or private veterinary center, she wanted to work in the industry. Her
program invited different guest speakers across the veterinary technology
community to share their roles with the students.
“Hearing the guest speaker from a local research laboratory made
me interested in learning more about the research side of the vet tech role. It
seemed like a natural fit to work with animals and apply my scientific
background from my undergraduate studies,” said Tai.
“When I became a licensed vet tech, a position for a study
technician at Covance was available. I applied and was hired. Even though I had
a 90-minute commute each way, I literally loved every single moment of the job.”
Recognizing the value of animal welfare
Although Tai had been inspired by the research technician
who visited her vet tech program, she still wasn’t entirely sure what she would
be doing as a study technician.
“I think the reason a lot of people don’t go into laboratory
animal medicine is because they are not sure what it is about. I think people
will find it’s much different than they expected,” said Tai. “When I started, I
only had a vague idea about animal research and what it meant, but Covance
provided me with a lot of on-the-job training.”
Tai also learned how study techs can help ensure that animal
welfare remains a top priority.
“One day while we were running a study, a fellow study tech
noticed an issue with a mouse. We called the veterinarian and he was there in
less than five minutes to evaluate the mouse and make sure it got the care it
needed. I saw first-hand how the animals were treated humanely and with
respect, and valued the importance of my role as the voice for these animals.”
Growing her career and recognizing her impact on
healthcare
Inspired by her work as a study tech, Tai decided to
continue her education in the field. She left Covance and enrolled in a
veterinary medicine program, earning her degree as a Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine (DVM). During her studies, she and her husband adopted two red-footed
tortoises after being a volunteer coordinator for the tortoises on campus. “We
fell in love with the tortoises,” she laughed. “They have unique personalities,
believe it or not.”
After completing both an internship and a residency program in laboratory animal medicine, she rejoined Covance, this time as a Clinical Veterinarian.
“I came back seven years later, and saw that some of the
same people are still at Covance, including the veterinarian that had made such
a positive impression on me,” she said. “I was so excited to be working with
some of the same staff.”
Beyond working with familiar faces, Tai is motivated by her
role in improving laboratory animal medicine.
“Good research comes from happy, healthy animals. I take
pride in advocating for our animals and making a positive impact in their lives,”
explained Tai. “Whether I am helping refine procedures to improve animal
welfare, ensuring animals have the right enrichment in their environments, or
simply changing cages, I enjoy the process of caring for our animals. Ultimately,
I see how the care we provide for our animals results in valuable data that helps
ground-breaking drugs come to life for both humans and animals alike.”
