Jeevan, Trials Assistant

Data entry and trial documentation

I have been at the MRCCTU for 4 months now and I work on the STAMPEDE trial, and the majority of my time is spent sorting and filing trial documentation. I also spend a significant amount of time completing data entry for a variety of forms – such as baseline forms and randomisation forms. Once a week, alongside other team members, I will speak directly with sites in order to process requests to randomise patients onto one of the variety of trials within the unit.

Although talks throughout the week are centred around data entry and trial documentation, I also provide administrative support for other members of my team including helping with preparation for upcoming meetings, chasing sites for or missing data or unresolved data queries.

I have also been regularly updating content on the STAMPEDE website, including adding FAQs and uploading site images and banners. I am also a member of the social committee, working together with other members to organise a vast array of social events over the year.

No two days are the same

Essentially, no day as a trial assistant is the same, I always find myself doing variety different tasks when assisting my team. Clinical trials are often adapting and changing which brings a selection of new responsibilities for my team and me.

Organisation and time management skills are vital to be a trial assistant.

Although a life science degree is not essential, it can help with understanding the complexities of a clinical trial. Most importantly, organisational and time management skills are vital to be a trial assistant. Your work ensures that all study documentation is not only reordered correctly but also easily accessible to members of team, subsequently; a strong attention to detail is also valuable. Moreover, there are times where you will be doing several tasks at once, so an ability to multitask and prioritise is also essential.

There are many opportunities to develop your career at the MRCCTU, these include on the job training, online courses or training workshops. I have already been to a serious of face-to-face training workshops which have provided me with a greater understanding of the process of running a clinical trial and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).