At the site level, having a great working relationship between monitors and research coordinators can really make a difference in the performance of the site.  To do this, monitors walk a fine line between being personable and relatable, but also being respected and trusted.

Often, when one thinks of the team that actually brings a new medical device or drug to market, the first people that come to mind are those at the sponsor company and the investigators at the individual sites – the leaders of the study.  What may be less known, though, is that often the study hinges on the shoulders of the Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC).  Briefly, CRCs are responsible for the accurate maintenance of the records for the trial, as well as many parts of the trial that otherwise may be overlooked.  Some of the major responsibilities of the CRC are:

As questioned in this issue of the Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices - why does the clinical research industry have such a high turnover rate for clinical research personnel?

This blog was written by a newer monitor with IMARC Research.  This is her experience, and certainly not representative of all research coordinators and monitors.  We thank her for sharing this, and hope others who have made the similar transition will chime in with their experiences!