I've got my PhD in Physiology & Biophysics, trained in neuroscience and researching Alzheimer's and Traumatic Brain Injury. How do I keep the momentum going so that it culminates in Clinical trials for the preclinical therapeutics and research I've been doing? Is there a "best practices" approach that'll be fulfilled by finding the right mentor, is it a matter of who I know or where I work or a matter of credentials/experience? What? What is the magic combo that gets people like me to that point?
Hello James. This is a wonderful question! I think that the first issue is actually being linked in some manner, to an Academic Health Sciences Centre. As noted in the previous reply, one way to do this would be as research staff. Alternatively, one could conduct a post-doctoral fellowship. The ideal, of course, would be to obtain a research position at PI, but recognize that these are very difficult to obtain these days, given the current funding climate. From a personal perspective, as an early career physician researcher, the opportunity to interact and work with PhD research colleagues is extremely exciting! The physician-PhD researcher team is great because both bring different strengths to the research endeavour. The physician (or other clinician) can offer access to patients/biological samples, while the PhD researcher has other specialized research skills. This synergy is something that I have only come to appreciate as a faculty member. Do you know any physicians or other clinicians you could team up with? If you present an exciting research idea, suggest that they may well be interested in being involved!
Hi James
That is a complex question dealing with translational medicine- usually the province of pharmaceutical companies. You may want to look into joining www.BioCareers.com They are affiliated with a number of universities and help with career development. They have resources that may help with moving into a translational role in neurosciences. CNS disease is a major target for the pharma industry so there could be interest in you. I just did a webinar for Biocareers entitled ' Power Your Career- The 7 Key Steps'. You can access it on their site. I'll likely be doing another so email me if you have interest- use [email protected] rather than my academic address.
Hi, James.
First join an investigators who conduct clinical trials in Neuroscience and ALZ disease and involve yourself as Sub-Investigator. Once you do 4-5 studies as Sub-Is, they you can seek the studies with your name as principal investigator from pharmaceutical sponsors. Pharma sponsors do not select an investigator who has not worked with them before or who has not conducted studies before.
I hope this answer your question.
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