Innovative Roles for Pharmacists in Industrial Clinical Research

Abstract

Due to recent advances in medicine and scientific methodology, the nature of the pharmaceutical industry has changed. This change has brought demands for a new kind of research scientist who is able to effectively interact with both academia and industry. For many reasons, today's pharmacists ideally fit this new role.

Pharmacists operate within academia by testing investiga-tional compounds at university medical centers. Specifically, pharmacists are responsible for on-site dispensation of drug and act as principal investigators for studying investigational compounds. Pharmacists are also used as consultants for various aspects of clinical studies. By playing this important role at the academic end of drug development, pharmacists help keep Industry/University communication open.

Pharmacists interact with industry by acting as clinical monitors at the sites of drug investigations. They also act as project leaders, drug information specialists and analytical development experts. Equally important functions for pharmacists in industry are roles in sales, marketing and clinical research administration. By employing their pharmaceutical expertise

Presented at the Academic Section, Federation Internationale Pharmaceuticque Meeting, Budapest, Hungary, September 1984 pharmacists can greatly help the drug industry design and execute good clinical trials.

Pharmacists have key roles in education interaction. University- industry interactions include three-month residency rotations and one or two-year fellowship programs. These programs give pharmacy students training and experience in drug development. Industry-University interactions include faculty sabbatical positions and teaching appointments at universities. By taking teaching positions, pharmacists in industry are able to keep valuable contact with academia. And lastly, pharmacists act as or.-site trainers for new monitors of clinical investigations.

Since medical research has reached a higher level of sophistication, new kinds of research scientists are required. These scientists must be able to bridge the gap between the pharmaceutical industry and university medical centers as well as be knowiegeable about drugs and disease states. Pharmacists are well suited for this role.