BANGALORE: After biotechnology, it is now the turn of students to make a beeline for courses in clinical research, and institutes are offering Master's and postgraduate diploma programmes.

In the country, there are more than 10 institutes that offer programmes in clinical research. Pharmaceutical colleges offer clinical research as an elective course, and a few offer it under the distance-education programme.

B. Anita discontinued Master's in Pharmacology to join a diploma course in clinical research. "Job prospects are much better in this field," she says.

Multinational corporations (MNCs) are outsourcing clinical research, and according to a recent McKinsey report, the business is expected to be worth Rs. 5,000 crore and provide employment to 50,000 people by 2010. The Union Government reckons that the business will be worth more than Rs. 10,000 crore in five years.

Survey

A preliminary survey made by Genesis Management Consultancy Services shows there are 50 prominent contract research organisations (CROs) in the country and they provide services in drug research, clinical trials and bioinformatics. It is estimated that about 30 smaller CROs exist. In the clinical trials segment, there are about 15 prominent players, including a few MNCs. A few have collaborations with international organisations and the rest are scouting for partners to enable them to participate in global studies.

The Institute of Clinical Research India (ICRI), which has a centre in Bangalore, has tied up with Cranfield University, U.K., for a Master's programme in clinical research. The programme will commence from August and more than 100 seats are on offer. "It is the same as the one being followed in Cranfield. We will follow it module for module," S.K. Gupta, ICRI Dean, said.

Fifty seats

The institute is already offering postgraduate diploma courses in clinical research and data management. Fifty seats are available in both courses. Mr. Gupta said there are 200 applicants each time.

"We have a tough scrutiny process and weed out a lot of people," he said.

The fee for courses in clinical research is high. Most institutions collect a fee of over Rs. 1.5 lakh for postgraduate diploma courses and more than Rs. 2 lakh for Master's programmes.

A concern for pharmaceutical companies is the quality of clinical researchers in the country. An official in a multinational pharmaceutical company said experienced investigators and good adversarial management teams are needed.

Trials should be conducted in special clinical research wards in controlled conditions, he added.

Quality

Indrani Banerjee, manager of the Academy for Clinical Excellence (ACE), which operates from Bombay College of Pharmacy, said setting up of institutions has helped improve the quality of students.

"Pharmaceutical majors need no longer be concerned over any lack of quality. Students are now being trained according to global standards," she said.

Ms. Banerjee said that earlier, clinical research was done "on an ad-hoc basis". "There was no proper module. But all that has changed, and this is reflecting in the quality."

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