The Role of Pharmacists in Clinical Research

Hadil Badan, Pharm.D. Candidate 2027

Would you believe me if I told you that pharmacists play a vital role in clinical research? My interest in research pharmacist positions started with my cousin, who has been battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, specifically lymphocyte-predominant HD, for several years now. He has tried multiple treatments, from chemotherapy to radiation therapy. Sadly, every time my family and top doctors across the globe thought he had gone into remission, his cancer returned. This led to his participation in clinical trials, trying new treatment drugs that research pharmacists help make. Research pharmacists ensure the safety of patients and the quality of a clinical trial by following set protocols. Some of their key responsibilities include preparing drug trials, running clinical tests, and assisting with applications for patents and FDA approval. They are also responsible for ordering, handling, storing, dispensing, and being accountable for these experimental medications. Examples of clinical trials currently in the works by research pharmacists include new treatment options for patients with melanoma and personalized cancer vaccines. These are just a few of many examples of how clinical research continues to change lives today, with future hopes of curing numerous diseases in just a few short years. Without research by pharmacists, my cousin would have hit a dead end for his treatment plan. But thanks to new medications and pharmaceuticals being developed by pharmacists, he has been given another chance to fight this aggressive disease.