The Centre was established as a Department of Clinical Research in the year 2009 with an objective to train human resources in clinical research. In the year 2012 activities of the Centre were expanded by including component of translational research. The Centre envisages imparting theory and practical training in all aspects of clinical research and clinical trials. It provides opportunity to young aspirants desirous of pursuing a career in expanding healthcare sector in India and abroad. According to industry sources, the clinical research industry in India will require a large number of professionals trained in various aspects of clinical research in the coming years. Importance of clinical research has got recognition in recent years due to commendable growth in domestic pharma industry. Global pharma giants have shown interest to conduct clinical trials in India. Moreover, a number of Contract Research Organisations (CROs) have been set up in India. These organizations provides support to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries in the form of research services outsourced on a contract basis. In view of all this developments demand for clinical research professionals in India is expected to grow exponentially. Therefore, personnel involved in clinical research needs training in Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and ethics.
The Centre offers a four semester full-time M.Sc. programme in Clinical Research and Ph.D. in Clinical and Translational Science which takes care of all aspects of clinical research. The study programme is comprehensive based on both course work and hands-on research experience in leading clinical research organization. It is a broad-based multi-disciplinary study programme to prepare professionals in clinical research with training in the principles and methods of clinical research, clinical trials, epidemiology, health economics, biostatistics, bioethics, GCP, translational research and application of these principles to clinical trials. The Centre has established collaboration with Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Max Healthcare Institute Ltd. INCLEN Trust International, Apollo Hospitals Educational and Research Foundation and other leading clinical research organizations for practical and hands-on training of the students. The Centre also envisages to organize communication skills workshop, and regular seminars for the students to train them in writing and presenting research data, clinical reports, grant applications and case study reports. Students are also provided exposure to Instructional Review Board (IRB) meetings.
Placement opportunities for M.Sc. Clinical Research students are very bright. Passed out students have been placed in Novartis, Panacea Biotech, Troikaa Pharmaceuticals, Fortis, Jubilant, Ind Gene, Auriga Research Ltd., Max Neeman, Max Healthcare Institute Ltd., Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Religare, Totipotent, Baxter, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Escorts Heart Institute, Medanta, Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute (PSRI), Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI, DBT), Jamia Hamdard (in Ph.D. programme), and BIT, Mesra (in Ph.D programme). Centre regularly organizes workshops on the contemporary topics in Clinical Research. Centre also undertakes consultancy projects on clinical trials.