DAS Management of Clinical Trials 2024

Announcement: Registrations for DAS Management of Clinical Trials 2024-2025 are open!

  • Registration for the DAS 2024-2025 is now open
  • Registration for individual modules is possible througout the year, up to 4 weeks before the module starts (by email: das-mas-clinical(at)unige.ch)
     
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Information

Period

September 2024 - May 2025
33 ECTS credits
169 Teaching hours
276 hours of personal work; 540 hours of personal work for the DAS Thesis.

Language

English

Format

On-site

Contact

+41 (0)22 379 54 58
das-mas-clinical(at)unige.ch

Location

Geneva

Registration

Registration deadline

30 June 2024
Modules can be followed individually
Registration for individual modules up to 4 weeks before the start of each module

Fees:

CHF 9’000.- for the Diploma
1-day-module: CHF 1’000.-
2-day-module: CHF 1’400.-
3-day-module: CHF 1’800.-

Contribution to the SDGs

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Objectives

  • Provide essential knowledge and understanding of drug development and marketing authorization processes
  • Enable participants to understand issues related to human subject research
  • Describe the different clinical trial designs and methodologies
  • Give a theoretical and practical insight on project planning and management in clinical trials
  • Provide effective tools to comply with clinical research regulations and Good Clinical Practices (GCP)
  • Enable participants to successfully manage trial applications to ethics committees and regulatory authorities
  • Illustrate how to implement quality systems in clinical trials

Audience

Medical doctors, biologists, pharmacists, veterinarians, nurses, biochemists and other professionals involved, or wishing to gain skills and knowledge, in the field of clinical research

Learning outcomes

  • Understand and use in a relevant context the different Clinical Trial designs and methodologies
  • Be familiar with drug development and medical device development and marketing authorization processes
  • Gain knowledge of GCP and of clinical research regulations in Switzerland, Europe and the United States
  • Become skilled at developing Case Report Form (CRF)
  • Coordinate the development of clinical trial protocols
  • Master effective project planning and management
  • Know how to manage applications for Ethics Committee (EC) and Regulatory Authority (RA)
  • Understand and implement Quality Systems used in Clinical Trials
  • Understand the issues related to research subject protection

Programme

9 modules: 

  • Principles and Methods in Clinical Research
  • Ethical and Legal Aspects
  • Preclinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology
  • Safety Management in Drug Development
  • Clinical Trials Set-up and Conduct
  • Clinical Trials Conduct and Close out
  • Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (optional)
  • Clinical Development of anti-cancer and anti infective vaccines (optional)
  • Medical Devices
  • Audits and Inspections

Dissertation
Students may choose between:

  • An internship/work placement in a pharmaceutical company, a Clinical Research Organisation (CRO) or a Clinical Trial Unit in a University Hospital (320 hours: two months full-time work or its equivalent on a part-time basis) followed by a report. It is the student's responsibility to find a work placement/internship. The DAS office regularly publishes vacancies, but students may find an offer elsewhere.
  • The development of a Clinical Trial protocol or a literature review and dissertation.

Director(s)

Prof. Youssef DAALI and Prof. François CURTIN, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva

Coordinator(s)

Prof. François CURTIN, Dr Catherine SUAREZ and Ms Camille Arni, University of Geneva

Accreditation

The course is accredited by Swissethics, Swiss Association of Pharmaceutical Professionals (SwAPP), Swiss Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (SGKPT-SSPTC), Swiss Institute for postgraduate and continuous medical education (SWIF-ISFM)

Fee

1800 CHF

Speakers

Prof Angèle Gayet-Ageron, Dr Cyril Jaksic

Description

  • Development of research questions and choice of endpoints
  • Study designs
  • Statistical methods used in clinical research
  • Principles of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT)
  • Critical review of publications
  • Development of study protocols
  • Choice of endpoints
  • Sample size calculation
  • Interim analysis planning

Fee

1800 CHF

Speakers

Prof Samia Hurst, Dr Emilie Alirol, Dr Brigitte Happ

Description

  • Clinical research ethics
  • Informed consent process
  • Data protection and confidentiality
  • Purpose and function of research Ethics Committees (EC)
  • Assessing risks and benefits to research participants
  • Vulnerable populations
  • Good clinical practices
  • Legal framework applicable in Switzerland, Europe and the United States for drugs, medical device and non-interventional trials
  • Clinical Trial Agreements (CTA) and authorship issues
  • Ethical issues in biobanks

Fee

1000 CHF

Speakers

Dr Valérie Nicolas, Prof Youssef Daali, Dr Catherine Deloche, Dr Marie-Paule Simonin

Description

  • Pharmacodynamics
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Toxicology
  • Drug metabolism
  • Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier (IMPD) and Investigator Brochure (IB)

Fee

1400 CHF

Speakers

Prof François Curtin, Dr Fabiana Tirone

Description

  • Risk management and safety monitoring during drug development
  • Safety assessment, documentation and reporting during clinical trials
  • Pre-and post-marketing pharmacovigilance
  • Role of Data and Safety Monitoring Boards (DSMB)

Fee

1800 CHF

Speakers

Dr Shelly Bustion, Dr Sandrine Charvat

Description

  • Scientific, strategic and safety considerations in clinical trial design
  • Budget development and resource planning
  • Investigator sites selection
  • Role of CROs and external providers
  • Clinical trial documents
  • Submission to Swiss Ethics Committee (EC) and Swiss Regulatory Authorities (RA)
  •  Risk Management

Fee

1800 CHF

Speakers

Dr Cécile Nicolas-Denizou, Dr Niloufar Marsousi

Description

  • Project management applied to clinical trials
  • Recruitment and retention of study subjects
  • Management of randomization and blinding systems
  • Data collection and data management
  • Management of investigational medicinal product
  • Monitoring of clinical studies
  • Clinical trial close out activities
  • Statistical analysis plan
  • Data cleaning and data base lock
  • Clinical study report
  • Safety reconcilation

Fee

1000 CHF

Speakers

Dr Lucie Bouchoud, Prof Farshid Sadeghipour, Dr Laurent Carrez

Description

  • Explanation of the GMP (good manufacturing practice)
  • Quality Assurance of the drug
  • Qualification and Validation (premice, equipment)
  • Raw material for drug manufacturing
  • What can be manufactured by a hospital pharmacy for clinical trials?

Fee

1000 CHF

Speakers

Prof Carole Bourquin, Dr Valérie Dutoit-Vallotton

Description

  • Preclinical vaccine development and prerequisites for clinical trials
  • Vaccine-relevant immunology: pathways to immunogenicity against infectious antigens and neoplastic cells
  • Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in vaccine production
  • Quality Assurance in vaccine production and testing
  • Phases of clinical testing of anti-infective and anti-cancer vaccines
     

Fee

1400 CHF

Speakers

Dr Mariagrazia Di Marco, Me Gabriel Avigdor

Description

  • Medical devices (MD) and new EU regulations (MDR, IVDR)
  • Qualification and classification
  • Clinical investigation and clinical trial application to authorities
  • Market access strategy
  • Conformity assessment and CE marking
  • Materiovigilance
  • Digital health and medical software
  • Combination products

Fee

1800 CHF

Speakers

Dr Isabelle Mercier, Dr Isabelle Semac

Description

  • Quality management systems
  • Audit
  • Purpose and conduct of regulatory inspections
  • Site preparation to inspections

Assessment

Students may choose between:
A vocational training in a pharmaceutical company, a Clinical Research Organization (CRO) or a Clinical Trial Unit in a University Hospital (3-4 months) followed by a report.
The development of a Clinical Trial protocol or a literature review and dissertation.

Pedagogical method

Lectures, interactive seminars, workshops, vocational training. Teaching is in English or in French.

Diploma awarded

Participants who successfully complete the programme will be awarded the Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in Management of Clinical Trials – Good Clinical Practice Implementation and Quality Processes / Diplôme de formation continue (DAS) en Gestion des essais cliniques – Mise en application des bonnes pratiques cliniques et processus qualité delivered by the University of Geneva.
Good Clinical Practice implementation and quality processes provide a theoretical and practical understanding of how these principles are shaping each step of a Clinical Trial, including study design, trial management, and conduct.

Admission criteria

  • Title of physician
  • Or Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Life Science or title deemed equivalent
  • Or bachelor’s degree from a Swiss University of Applied Sciences plus a minimum of 1 year professional experience in the field of the DAS
  • Good level of English (B2-C1)

The candidates who follow the programme during their working time must provide written authorization from their employer.

Steering committee

  • Prof Gerrit Borchard, President of the Section of Pharmaceutical Sciences (ISPSO), Faculty of Science, University of Geneva
  • Prof Alexandra Calmy, Vice-Dean of clinical research, Director of the Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Head of HIV/AIDS Unit, Associate Physician, Department of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals
  • Prof Youssef Daali, Head of the Pharmacological Investigation Unit, Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
  • Prof Antoine Geissbuhler, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
  • Dr Olivier Huber, President, Cantonal Commission on Human Research Ethics, Canton of Geneva
  • Prof Samia Hurst, Director, Institute of Ethics, History and Humanities (iEH2), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
  • Prof Arnaud Perrier, Medical Director, Geneva University Hospitals

Scientific committee

  • Dr Emilie Alirol, Senior Director Clinical Affairs, FIND
  • Dr Enrica Alteri, Pharmaceutical consultant, former Head of Human Medicine R&D Support Division, EMA
  • Prof Francois Curtin, Medical Director Personalised Health Programmes, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich & Lecturer at Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva
  • Prof Youssef Daali, Head of the Pharmacological Investigation Unit, Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
  • Dr Patricia Delaite, Chief Medical Officer, Nouscom, Basel
  • Dr Catherine Deloche, Chief Operating Officer, Solid Drug Development, Geneva
  • Prof Jules Desmeules, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
  • Prof Philippe Ducor, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva
  • Prof Marc Froissart, Medical Director of the Clinical Research Centre (CRC), CHUV-UNIL, Lausanne
  • Prof Angèle Gayet-Ageron, Head of the Methodological Support Unit, Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medecine, University of Geneva
  • Prof Angela Huttner, Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
  • Dr Cyril Jaksic, Statistician, Methodological Support Unit, Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Geneva University Hospitals
  • Dr Françoise Lascombes, External Consultant
  • Dr Guillaume Perriard, PhD, Lead patient Engagement, Novartis, Basel
  • Dr Victoria Rollason, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva

Application File

  • Copy of identity document
  • Passport photo
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Copies of relevant university degrees
  • Covering letter
  • Two reference letters
  • Written authorisation from their employer, if applicable

Cancellation Policy

Any withdrawal before the start of the programme will incur an administration fee of CHF 500.-. Fees will be payable in full once the course has begun.


Schedule

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Remarks

Candidates are advised that a significant amount of self-study is required to complete the DAS and that they are expected to carry out preparatory work before each module. Students should therefore allow sufficient time for home study in addition to attending lectures.

Examinations will take place at a specific date and time, usually a few days before the start of the next module. Candidates must ensure that they are available for these assessments.

Contribution to the SDGs

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development