Training Clinical Scientists

Almost daily, results from clinical studies are published in the popular press.A highly qualified workforce is needed to design and implement these studies.Formal training in clinical research typically starts later in a professional career than in basic science and continues through the junior faculty stage, even into mid-career.Teaching research skills to adult learners who have already had extensive clinical training presents unique challenges because they are no longer in a full-time student role, may be providing limited clinical care, and may have personal obligations.At the same time, the landscape of clinical research continues to evolve, resulting in the need for increasingly specialized training.Team science and multiple PI studies are growing in number because of the complexity of the science needed to answer clinically relevant questions.Master protocol clinical trials (e.g., basket, umbrella, and platform designs), decentralized clinical trials, studies incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence, and point of care studies are becoming more common.Owing to the burgeoning number of gene therapies for rare and ultra-rare diseases, as well as device studies, there is an increased need for human studies that use a limited number of study participants, with corresponding statistical analyses that are new to many investigators.The recognition of health disparities across many different demographics stresses the need for individuals in all roles in clinical trial studies to be well versed in cultural and community-based communication.The complexity and generally late onset of clinical research training require that more and specialized attention be paid to the professional development of clinical researchers to ensure success in meeting these challenges.We propose several potential approaches that could enhance the pipeline and maintenance of a strong clinical science workforce.Addressing the first 2 approaches will facilitate the others.