S1 Ep10: Career Choices: Novartis Clinical Trials Project Management Explained

From test tube to market can take 10 to 12 years, so Clinical
Trials are complex, multi-faceted projects that require an
extensive range of skills and personnel.

In this episode, Siobhán Murphy, DCU Careers Advisor is joined by
Mairéad Lyons, Group Lead, Clinical Project
Management and Béibhinn Ní Dhonnchadha, Graduate
Associate, Clinical Operations Specialist both based in
Novartis Global Services Centre,
Dublin. 

Mairéad and Béibhinn explain how human clinical trials work - the
typical duration of a trial, what is involved with managing
clinical trials and the diversity of skills involved.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday 12th May 2020.
0:06-0:54


Welcome Introduction to Mairéad
Lyons, Group Lead Clinical Project Management and
Béibhinn Ní Dhonnchadha, Graduate Associate Clinical
Operations Specialist both based in Novartis
Global Services Centre, Dublin.





0:54 -3.48 -


What are Clinical Trials and what is the Project
Management of Trials?


From the test tube to the market it can take 10 to 12 years.
However, some can be fast tracked depending on need. Project
management of trials involved overseeing of vendors, data
management, liaising with medical personnel and being a point of
contact for a project.





3:48-6:57


What are the skills needed to work in this area?


Multi-tasking, time management, adaptability, flexibility,
managing budgets, cope when things don’t go to plan, relationship
management.





6:57-8.59


Béibhinn explains her role on the Graduate
Programme


Béibhinn explains how she has shadowed trials since January and
explains the leap from the theory in college to the practical
side of things





8:59-10:45


What attracted Béibhinn to develop her career in Clinical
Trials


Béibhinn explains both her love of Science, Art & Music and
how during her time working in the Children’s museum she realised
she wanted a career that was people-focused.





10:45 -12:12


Mairéad explains her Career Story


Mairéad explains how she began her career as a Clinical Research
Associate based on hospital sites and how that start gave her a
deep understanding of the process. From there she moved to
Novartis and developed her career to her current position as
Group Lead.





12:12-17:08


Mairéad goes deeper on Project Management


Challenges and an interest in problem solving are key. Important
to keep with the process and work consistently to keep the
project on track. The collection of data, working statisticians,
medical leads, working together as a team.





17:13-21:05


What about future development for Novartis?


Mairéad explains how Novartis has teamed up with Microsoft to
utilize Artificial Intelligence in their management of Clinical
Trials. This is an exciting development to improve efficiency of
data collections both at the hospitals and also from the
wearables that patients participating in the trial could be
using. This has the potential to reduce the length of time of
trials, which is good for both patients and business.





21:05-23:00


Where are Novartis around the World? And how are the team
managing during Covid 19?


Novartis is based in a number of areas around the world, with
their Head Office in Basel, Switzerland. As it is an
international firm, they are quite used to working in virtual
teams. However, COVID has brought its own challenges with Mairead
and her colleagues all now working from home. This has meant that
the team has had to adapt to remote working. Travel has been
cancelled but through technology, the team are managing to remain
connected. As trials are based at hospitals, Covid 19 has had an
impact on the trials.





23:00-26:00


Béibhinn explains the adjustment to remote working and
shares her tips to new Graduates entering the Workforce


Béibhinn explains the importance of embracing the change and
stresses that it is a new experience for everyone. It is
important to reach out, get assistance when needed and stay
connected socially via virtual tea breaks and having the ‘chats’.





26:00-27:58 


How Novartis plan to onboard Graduates


Mairéad describes how Novartis uses buddies and Mentors, as well
as supportive check-ins and explains how this will continue
through remote working.