Curriculum: Clinical Trials Design and Research Graduate Certificate

Curriculum: Clinical Trials Design and Research Graduate Certificate
12.01.2024
12
01.13.2025
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curriculum icon Curriculum at a Glance

The Certificate program in Clinical Trials aims to program a global view of the contemporary scientific, regulatory, economic, and operational issues pertaining to all phases of clinical trials-starting from early clinical pharmacology to market launch and beyond.

Notable differences between the Master’s Programs and the Certificate Programs:

  • The Certificate Programs provide an entry point for those who have not recently been enrolled in an academic setting without the commitment to a full Master’s degree program
  • Unlike the full MS degree program, the Certificate Programs can be completed in 1 year
  • There is no GRE requirement for admission to the Certificate Programs

Below is a sample curriculum. Please note, this is subject to change based on university discretion. The proposed schedule is a guide and is subject to change based on curriculum modifications and faculty availability.

To learn more about our course offerings, review a sample of our curriculum.

Course Title / Description Credit
PHDD8050
Phase I/II Clinical Trials Research and Design
Course: PHDD8050
Credit: 3
This course will provide an understanding on the early clinical drug development activities for newchemical entity that has received IND approval. Concepts of early clinical pharmacology studies, typically conducted in a Phase I setting such as single and multiple dose pharmacokinetics, dose escalation studies to determine the safety and tolerability of drug, mass balance and drug metabolism studies and bioavailability studies will be taught. Emphasis will then be placed on Phase II trials as proof-of-principle, and on the dose-ranging requirements for Phase II. Trial designs including cross-over and parallel group will be discussed. The importance of Phase I/II trials for making dose selections for Phase III will be explored, as will the use of Phase II trials as a go/no-go decision point. The importance of exposure-response (PK/PD) information in guiding the go/no-go decision will also be discussed. The use of biomarkers and pharmacogenomic information in decision making will be addressed. Activities which run in parallel to PhaseI/II trials, including formulation development and clinical supplies and toxicology studies will be discussed.
3
PHDD8060
Statistical Principles in Clinical Research
Course: PHDD8060
Credit: 3
The course is designed to teach the statistical principles involved in designing clinical research studies to support new drug development programs. Statistical analysis techniques commonly used will be discussed as well as the newer approaches being considered. Statistical topics addressed in regulatory guidelines will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the use of statistical software such as JMP. Hands on exercises using the latest version of JMP will be conducted in various classes.
3
PHDD8070
Phase III/IV Clinical Trials and Research
Course: PHDD8070
Credit: 3
This course will provide a comprehensive background in the design and conduct of large, multicenter Phase III clinical trials of investigational compounds. Emphasis will be placedon the conduct of studies that include patients with varying demographics (age, gender, genetic background and disease state such as renal and hepatic). Issues pertaining to clinical operations, project management, human subjects protections and data safety monitoring will be discussed. An introduction to principles of population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be included. The course will include conceptsof post marketing surveillance of approved drugs for drug safety and idiosyncratic reactions, global approaches for pharmacovigilance and compliance with ICH guidelines for recording and dissemination of adverse events. Issues pertainingto pharmacoepidemiology and clinical utilization/effectiveness of the drug will also bediscussed.
3
PHDD8080
Pharmaceutical Economics and Management
Course: PHDD8080
Credit: 3
This course will provide students a background in project management issues in the conduct of global clinical trials, financial aspects of drug development and pharmacoeconomics of approved drug/drug products. The first module will focus on logistic and strategic issues of project management encountered in modern drug development. It includes exposure to principles of project management of complex programs involving: pharmaceutical development, operations, and regulatory affairs. In addition, the corporate challenges involved with portfolio management and optimization will be presented focusing on tools used for optimum decision making. This knowledge base will be applied towards selective case presentations with the goal to identify critical decision points in the process that dramatically impact the successful launch of a new product. The second module will emphasize the business and financial aspects of drug development, including biotechnology and other innovative small pharmaceutical companies that derive their funding primarily from venture capital funding, business strategies, outsourcing and merger and acquisitions. Valuation of the new chemical/molecule as it evolves in the drug development pipeline will be discussed.
3
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