There is a national need for a new apprenticeship in clinical pharmacology that addresses the urgent gap existing in clinical pharmacology, medical and scientific skills in the UK. The broad purpose of this profession is to design, analyse, interpret and report clinical research and clinical trials aimed at understanding what a drug is doing to the body (pharmacodynamics), what happens to a drug in the body (pharmacokinetics), and how it works in terms of treating a particular disease. The expertise of the clinical pharmacologists renders them well-placed to aid in all aspects of medicine management, support the discovery and development of new medicines and improve understanding of existing ones. The Clinical Pharmacology Scientists will form a key component of NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs), Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) and other academic groups, with a focus on driving the development and translation of novel therapeutics in an academic setting. At present, there is a lack of formal training for clinical pharmacologist, the training needs/standards as well as the role itself are not clearly defined. This apprenticeship responds to these concerns directly.

Key benefits

• The programme is delivered part-time across 30 months and the modules are delivered as one week courses to allow part-time study
• The programme is aligned to the level 7 Clinical Pharmacology Scientist Framework from the Institute of Apprenticeships and is recognised by the Royal Societies and Regulatory Bodies in the UK
• The programme has been designed in collaboration with the Clinical Pharmacology Scientist Trailblazer group, which included: ABPI, British Pharmacological Society, Pharmaceutical Industry and NHS).
• The capstone module for the award of MSc Clinical Pharmacology Integrated Apprenticeship combines the practical experience gained in the work-place with the knowledge and skills provided by the taught modules, which results in a truly integrated degree
• Successful students will be awarded both an MSc Clinical Pharmacology and an Apprenticeship in Clinical Pharmacology.