Become a Clinical Trial Investigator

We seek talented, experienced physicians (MDs, DOs) and mid-level practitioners (NPs, PAs, PharmD's) licensed to practice medicine in El Paso, Texas, or Las Cruces, New Mexico, to become clinical trial investigators!

Here are some compelling reasons to add clinical research to an existing outpatient medical practice:

Offer cutting-edge, life-saving treatment options
Earn additional revenue
Improve health outcomes and quality of care
Increased practice visibility, reputation and referrals
Recruit and retain talent

What is the role of a clinical trial principal investigator (PI)?

A clinical investigator, typically, is responsible for the planning and execution of a clinical study. The investigator is also expected to conduct ethical research, protect the rights of human participants, and contribute knowledge to their area of specialty.

Clinical Trial Investigator Training

Before taking on any trials, physicians and mid-tier practitioners (NPs, PAs, PharmDs) must complete specialized Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training. Sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb’s Organization for Latino Achievement (OLA) and in partnership with the Association For Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), the MCA’s Clinical Trial Academy program offers physicians 24/7 online access to high-quality investigator training on-demand, and at your own pace at no cost. For more information, see the course outline below:

Course Description:

5 required GCP eLearning modules; plus 20 + clinical research courses for more advanced training.
Ideal for new or entry-level investigators.
24/7 on-demand access to ACRP’s eLearning portal

Certificate:

Certificates will be provided following the completion of course exams.

Who should apply?

Physicians (MD’s, DO’s) & mid-level practitioners (NPs, Pas, PharmDs)

Eligibility Criteria

Must be licensed physicians (MD, DO) or mid-level practitioners (PharmD, NP, PA) practicing medicine in El Paso, Texas, or Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Must be willing to complete the training within 1 year as limited user slots cannot be reassigned

Schedule

-Now accepting applications.

Begin Your Clinical Trial Investigation Career Today! Space is Limited. Apply Today (Training is FREE)

Investigator Coaching

Physicians (MD, DO) and mid-level practitioners (NP, PA, PharmD) are also invited and encouraged to register for a 3-hour coaching seminar(s) with experienced local investigators to review ACRP course content and get their questions answered. For more information, see the coaching session outline below:

Coaching Session Description

3-hour virtual and in-person group seminars led by experienced local investigators
Review course content and get your questions answered
Meet other regional investigators new to research
Get input from your coach about other non-training-related questions.

Who should register?

Individuals participating in ACRP’s Investigator Training offered via this program.

Schedule

Applications are currently being accepted and the schedule will be posted once renewed funding has been approved.

Sergio Guerrero, MD

Veronica Luzzi, MD, CPI

FAQs

What is the role of a clinical trial investigator?

A clinical investigator, typically, is a licensed physician (MD, DO) responsible for the planning and execution of a clinical study. The investigator is also expected to conduct ethical research, protect the rights of human participants, and contribute knowledge to their area of specialty–– new medical therapies or alternative treatments.

What is the proposed training schedule and timeline for this program? Who are the experienced physician investigator coaches for this program?

Do I need prior experience as an investigator?

No previous experience as an investigator is needed to qualify.

How do I enter the field?

As a physician (MD, DO) or mid-level practitioner (PharmD, NP, PA) with the credentials and license to practice medicine. Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Physician Investigator (PI) training required by the FDA to get started can be accessed at no cost via the following link: Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training National Institutes of Health (NIH)

What types of clinics does the MCA’s Clinical Trial Academy support?

Although designed primarily to serve independently owned outpatient clinics this program can also support many other types of outpatient clinics per your request including:

Specialty Clinics
Federally Qualified Health Clinics (FQHCs)
Academic Medical Centers
Free-Standing Research Sites
Healthcare Systems
Healthcare Plans

How do I advance?

You can obtain an academic degree and certification in clinical research/ medicine development (MS, PhD). There are also several professional associations that offer training, resources, and networking avenues to serve the needs of research professionals at multiple stages of their career:

PI Competency Domains & Guidelines

The following core PI competency guidelines provide a framework for the knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary to perform the PI role effectively. Clinical trial sites should also familiarize themselves with the new competency domains for clinical research professionals. The clinical research professional competency domains were developed by the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency in collaboration with ACRP to promote the quality and standardization of the research profession and to ensure clinical research professionals receive the training they need to be successful.

Certification

The following certifications are available for principal investigators:
Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)- PI Certification

Professional Associations

FDA Training Resources Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Academy of Physicians in Clinical Research (APCR)
Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)
Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA)
Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS)
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program *CITI is free for TTUHSC, BCOMM, UTEP