The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) welcomes Medical Center of the Americas Foundation as the latest member of the ‘Workforce Innovation Steering Committee’ (WISC). Dr. Charles Miller, PhD, Associate VP for Research & Healthcare Quality at UT Health Science Center in Houston, Texas sits as a MCA board member servings as founding chair of the Clinical Trial Consortium.
“The MCA Foundation (MCA), a non-profit organization, whose mission is to develop and catalyze the life science ecosystem, in the Paso del Norte region (El Paso, Texas; Juarez, Mexico; and Las Cruces, New Mexico), is thrilled to become a member of ACRP’s Workforce Innovation Steering Committee,” says Dr. Miller. “The MCA is committed to growing clinical research excellence regionally, and looks forward to contributing to the development and implementation of workforce initiatives, designed to advance research excellence, globally. The MCA plays a key role as neutral facilitator and Executive Sponsor of the region’s Clinical Trial Consortium.”
Through the efforts of the MCA – comprised of public and private stakeholders – the organization is actively seeking to improve clinical trial and quality by implementing methods for streamlining and standardizing projects. These initiatives are primarily in response to changes impacting the workforce in the Paso del Norte region.
“Industry’s current approach to workforce planning, development, and assessment is not sustainable and is not resulting in improved clinical trial outcomes. By focusing on the talent pool today, ACRP is working collaboratively to ensure the stability of the clinical research enterprise in the future and the continued development of new drugs, devices, and therapies,” says Jim Kremidas, ACRP Executive Director.
Health care places strong emphasis on quality improvement, efficiency, process, and technological innovation. Through the partnership of MCA and ACRP for the WISC, clinical research planning and development has the opportunity to progress at a comparable trajectory as the rest of the industry advances.
“Future WISC initiatives include development and promotion of hiring guidelines for clinical research coordinators and competency standards for principal investigators,” as discussed in the ACRP Press Release published on October 3rd.
-Caliann Ferguson