Unveiled - A short eLearning course on Oncology in Clinical Trials

Oncology is defined as a medical specialty focusing on the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancer which can affect people of all ages.  Oncology is one of the largest and most extensively studied therapeutic areas in clinical research.  A tremendous amount of research (especially in the past decade) conducted on all aspects of oncology including cell biology, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies and supportive care has dramatically changed our understanding of the disease.  Oncology literature is very vast (to say the least); therefore, a basic understanding of the key concepts and terminology pertaining to oncology is critical to a successful career in clinical research.

Clinical Trials in Oncology are somewhat more complicated than other therapeutic areas, with Clinical Endpoint and Adverse Event Reporting being some of the major differentiators.  This is another reason why it becomes important for professionals working on Oncology trials to develop a solid understanding of the therapeutic area. 

While working with CliPLab, as a mentor for C-CAP participants, I realized that there is a large pool of professionals that can benefit from an orientation course in Oncology and other therapeutic areas.  The work in Clinical Trial Services is not just about effective usage of analytical tools such as SAS.  Rather, it is much more about applying the knowledge of the domain to determine the right procedure, approach and the tools to be used for the analysis.  A crisp orientation course on relevant therapeutic areas therefore becomes crucial in order to expect a high level of performance from professionals working on a project in a specific area. With the intent to help working professionals develop a basic understanding of the domain, a short course titled ‘Oncology in Clinical Trials’ has been launched.   

This applied course in oncology will cover several topics from the perspective of conducting, analyzing and interpreting clinical oncology research.  The course is divided into several modules delivered in a logical sequence starting with the introduction to the disease followed by cancer risk factors, cancer diagnosis and staging, basics of cancer treatment, clinical endpoints in cancer, RECIST guidelines and clinical trial designs.  Numerous examples and illustrations are provided throughout the course to facilitate a better understanding of the underlying concepts.  This course offers an ideal platform for candidates seeking to enter a project in Oncology and can be taken at their own convenience through the eLearning portal of CliPLab. Want one more reason? As an inaugural offer, CliPLab is offering 50% discount on the course fee.

Watch for a brief overview of the course content.

Any feedback towards betterment of the course are absolutely welcome.

About the author - The author is a veteran in clinical research with over 15 years of rich and diverse experience in the field.  He has worked extensively in Oncology research and contributed handsomely to the scientific and medical literature of international repute. His profile can be viewed at https://in.linkedin.com/pub/digant-gupta/10/689/b49.