Clinical research associates (CRAs) need immediate access to relevant and accurate site performance metrics, but information is often isolated within multiple databases and spread across different tracking systems. To deliver key site performance data to CRAs via mobile and web applications – quickly and conveniently – Covance has created a specialized clinical analytics suite of products, Covance Xcellerate® Informatics. This powerful solution integrates data from all sources and allows a CRA to gain a clear and concise view of all clinical trial data, in one place, for all the sites that a CRA is monitoring.
Tag Archives: CRA
Work That Matters: A Personal Impact
Covance employees working to support clinical trials recognize that they are helping to 
move medicine forward and improve healthcare, but sometimes the impact is much closer to home.
“A client of ours was testing a new formulation of a measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine and needed to ensure the end product was safe in pediatric populations,” explained Joshua. The Phase IV study was running smoothly but needed a Clinical Research Associate (CRA). Joshua was thrilled to take on the study and build on his experience. Continue reading
Keeping Skills Sharp For CRAs
The drug industry is evolving and clinical trials are becoming more complex. How do CRAs in a large global company keep their skills up to date? Recognizing that large group meetings are costly and virtual training feels impersonal, Covance decided to address this challenge with an innovative model called CLIK: Country Leadership Imparting Knowledge.
With selected leaders identified from each of the 70+ countries that Covance serves, the CLIK program brings CRAs face-to-face to share their experiences, gain new knowledge and then serve as training representatives for peers in their own regional teams. Continue reading
Risk-Based Monitoring – Driving the Evolution of the Clinical Research Associate Role
Over the last 10 years, clinical trials have changed substantially in response to increasing globalization and study complexity, along with new technological capabilities and industry guidelines[1],7. With these noticeable transformations, sponsors are increasingly revisiting their monitoring methods to uncover new efficiencies and develop more robust risk management processes that can enhance ongoing patient safety and data quality.
At the forefront of this movement is risk-based monitoring (RBM) – a broad term for a variety of clinical monitoring methods that combine people, process and technology, enabling project teams and Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) to focus on the most important risks in clinical trials.
Investing in Today’s CRA Talent to Ensure a Stronger Tomorrow
The Importance of Clinical Research Associate Training to Support Effective Trials
The clinical trial landscape is witnessing an increase in Phase III trials that average more than 3,500 patients. As more of these large trials continue to emerge, many contract research organizations (CROs) and sponsors are struggling to recruit 
qualified clinical research associates (CRAs) to support the influx of work.
Lack of experienced talent represents one of the main challenges facing the market, impacting sponsors and CROs alike with increased costs and extended timelines. Yet the urgent need for qualified CRAs will continue given that the demand in the field is projected to grow by 36.4% from 2012 to 2022[1] in the US, an issue also reflected worldwide.