Clinical Trials Pharmacist

Cancer Care Coordinators

Clinical Cancer Nurse Specialist

Cancer Care Coordinators

Clinical Cancer Nurse Specialist

A clinical trials pharmacist is involved in researching, testing and developing new medications that one day might improve patient outcomes. This is a varied role that requires a very organised person with great attention to detail. Running trials within cancer care enables patients to have access to the newest treatments which will not be universally available.

As a Clinical Trials Pharmacist you are most likely to:

Work in a hospital setting;
Research and prepare to test new treatments;
Create proposals and ensure all paperwork is in place to run a robust trial;
Set up and run trials within the hospital working with patients as well as doctors and nurses;
Continuously monitor safe and ethical delivery of the trials;
Build strong and trusted relationships with the trial sponsors
Prepare and present the findings of the research and make recommendations.

Entry Requirements

Most universities ask for three A-levels or equivalent typically in Chemistry, a second science and maths.

Entry requirements do vary and those offering a foundation year may have lower grade requirements so always check with you preferred university.

Training Routes

To become a pharmacist you would need to complete a four year university degree to achieve a Masters degree in pharmacy. You would then undertake a paid 12 month work placement called your foundation training year. Upon passing your exam at the end of this year you can register with the General Pharmaceutical Council and practice as a Pharmacist.

Key Skills

Communication – people in team and nurses, doctors on wards plus patients

Organised – cancer care

You will:

Be an excellent communicator, able to support patients, work with other clinicians and build relationships with external teams like trial sponsors
Have excellent clinical knowledge and understanding of how different medicines work and interact with each other and what side effects they can cause;
Be interested in research and helping to identify new treatments;
Have strong attention to detail making sure that trials and run in a robust and safe way

Pay and benefits

Pharmacists are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. As a newly qualified pharmacist you would typically start on a Band 6, progressing to a Band 9 as a Chief Pharmacist.

Career Development

Once employed within a hospital Trust pharmacists undertake ‘rotations’ where they work in different areas gaining experience and finding their area of interest which could be in oncology (cancer care).

It is expected that all pharmacists will continue to learn and to undertake regular training to maintain their professional registration

Within cancer care pharmacists can progress into more senior roles working in research, clinically or in management of the entire pharmacy team.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Pharmacist | Health Careers

General Pharmaceutical Council (pharmacyregulation.org)