Researcher’s Perspectives: How a personal connection created a career in clinical trials

Behind every new treatment is the incredible team of doctors, researchers, patients, and clinical trial specialists who worked on the research that made it possible. Because every therapy must be rigorously tested through clinical trials before it can be approved, the process from creation to entering the market can be an arduous one — but it’s one that makes medical breakthroughs possible.

This Cancer Prevention Month, we’re highlighting an interview that took place with Julia, an experienced project manager who has been in clinical research for more than 20 years. She is on the front lines of developing new cancer drugs and works in a large contract research organization managing global clinical trials. We chatted with her about the inspiration behind her work, what she’s excited about in the future, and more. Read on below:

Perspective from a clinical trials project manager

What made you want to work in clinical trials?
I became involved in clinical research after leaving university after a friend was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. She was 26 years old and a mother of two children under the age of three. After being diagnosed in December, she died within three month; watching her and the family cope was very difficult and I wanted to make a difference.

How did you enter the field?
I studied molecular biology and was focused on research in oncology, which is how I managed to secure my first job as a site monitor. My goal was to learn as much as I could about the process of clinical research, the phases of research, and what evidence was required at each stage of clinical trials. I moved around different companies, learning new aspects of the evolution of drug development.  It was a very exciting time to be involved in clinical research, as it was around the advent of targeted treatments for cancer treatments.

What is the biggest challenge when working in medical research?
Competing trials. There are a lot of trials investigating similar areas to determine which is the best treatment, or which combinations most benefit patients. It's important to ensure you obtain enough data to show if your drug is working or not — and therefore getting patients' and clinicians' attention is vital to the success of any clinical trial.

With the use of the internet, doing outreach for clinical trials is getting easier. Patients are more savvy, and if someone has been diagnosed with a disease, they can access a wealth of knowledge on the web, including patient support groups and study information.

What advice would you give to patients who might be considering a clinical trial?
Always consult with your doctor on any information you find on the internet. Your doctor can provide advice and may have important information pertaining to clinical trial participation. Also, it’s helpful to understand if the study is using placebos, and if so, if you will be able to switch to the active drug if you do not respond.

What has been the most exciting development you’ve witnessed?
In my 20 years in the industry, I have only worked on one drug that has proven to do exactly what it intended: a targeted treatment for leukemia. So you can appreciate how much effort goes into drug development — only a small proportion are successful, which makes clinical research so much more important.

I’ve also been lucky enough to meet patients and their families, and it brings such joy and satisfaction to feel, in some small way, that you have contributed to the smile on all of their faces. It is incredibly satisfying to see patients with a better quality of life.

What are you excited to see next in the industry?
It’s an exciting time for drug development. For me personally, I look forward to the next 10 years to see what our scientists come up with next. They are the unsung heroes whose research on how diseases are caused, and pinpointing potential targets is the first step in a very long process. I hope we will find what we are looking for to eradicate suffering caused by disease and illness.