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Institutional research coordinator vs clinical research associate

The differences between institutional research coordinators and clinical research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an institutional research coordinator and a clinical research associate. Additionally, a clinical research associate has an average salary of $62,966, which is higher than the $46,117 average annual salary of an institutional research coordinator.

The top three skills for an institutional research coordinator include data entry, powerpoint and IRB. The most important skills for a clinical research associate are patients, informed consent, and CRA.

Institutional research coordinator vs clinical research associate overview

Institutional Research CoordinatorClinical Research Associate
Yearly salary$46,117$62,966
Hourly rate$22.17$30.27
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs56,97394,336
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does an institutional research coordinator do?

An institutional research coordinator is typically responsible for maintaining, monitoring, and assessing instructional databases to support and evaluate an institutional research, long term-planning, and decision making ideas of a researcher or a team. They help with other divisions' or departments' research-related activities, collect and interpret data, and provide technical support for teachers, researchers, and other coordinators. Also, they must monitor documents and research materials to ensure that they are used correctly.

What does a clinical research associate do?

A clinical research associate is responsible for assisting medical professionals in clinical trials and conducting research studies on medications and medical procedures. Clinical research associates monitor the research materials, ensuring its safety and reliability through trial procedures, writing comprehensive reports of results, and disseminating information across the concerned parties. They also provide recommendations on improving clinical processes, reiterating protocol requirements, and maintaining strict confidentiality of the trial subjects. A clinical research associate must have extensive knowledge of the medical industry, including its disciplines and principles, to perform duties accurately under minimal supervision.

Institutional research coordinator vs clinical research associate salary

Institutional research coordinators and clinical research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Institutional Research CoordinatorClinical Research Associate
Average salary$46,117$62,966
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $63,000Between $43,000 And $91,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyDean Health PlanMeta
Best paying industryReal EstatePharmaceutical

Differences between institutional research coordinator and clinical research associate education

There are a few differences between an institutional research coordinator and a clinical research associate in terms of educational background:

Institutional Research CoordinatorClinical Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessBiology
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Institutional research coordinator vs clinical research associate demographics

Here are the differences between institutional research coordinators' and clinical research associates' demographics:

Institutional Research CoordinatorClinical Research Associate
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 39.9% Female, 60.1%Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 12.2% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 13.0% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between institutional research coordinator and clinical research associate duties and responsibilities

Institutional research coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Collect, manage and analyze preliminary data using SPSS statistical software.
  • Answer phones, enter data into the computer using micrsoft excel, word, and powerpoint.
  • Produce learning materials for workshops including PowerPoint presentations, group activities, program tools, and media delivery aids.
  • Communicate with hospital physicians to educate them on the current NIH and FDA policies and guidelines regarding clinical research.
  • Act as a liaison between the investigators and government agencies such as the FDA, DHHS, and OHRP.
  • Participate in a sub-committee to provide comprehensive reports on all IRB activities to facilitate renewal of the AAHRPP accreditation
  • Show more

Clinical research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage, schedule and train up to 15 CRAs.
  • Recruit patients, attain patient inform consent form, educate subjects on compliance, and ensure patient safety per ICH guidelines.
  • Manage site TMF to ensure communication requirements adherence
  • Manage CRO and regional monitor to complete close out activities, including device accountability management.
  • Manage regional academic and community base oncology practices as the primary contact for all communications and support.
  • Manage the monitoring CRO and the data clean-up efforts for a 510k submission and interim/annual study reports by effectively collaborating cross-functionally.
  • Show more

Institutional research coordinator vs clinical research associate skills

Common institutional research coordinator skills
  • Data Entry, 10%
  • PowerPoint, 8%
  • IRB, 7%
  • Research Projects, 6%
  • Research Studies, 5%
  • Data Collection, 5%
Common clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • CRA, 6%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%

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