About CR Careers

What is CR Careers?

CR Careers is a web portal that serves as a centralised source of relevant information for young physicians and academics who are interested in clinical research and aim to facilitate their career progression. CR Careers shows that different trajectories are possible when pursuing a clinical research career, and it offers quick access to many support instruments that help physicians along their career path.

Why is this webportal important?

Good clinical research is paramount for improving patient care, and clinical research experts with solid training are needed to maintain and improve the quality of clinical research in Switzerland. Currently, not many young physicians follow a clinical research path because they often perceive combining clinical duties and research activities as difficult.

By facilitating access to relevant information, including which competencies to acquire as well as career support, funding, training, and mentoring opportunities, and by presenting examples of passionate clinical researchers with diverse career trajectories, this web portal aims to support early career clinical researchers and motivate young physicians to pursue a research career. 

Who is behind this web portal?

The CR Careers web portal is the result of collaboration involving three organisations engaged in supporting clinical research: the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS), the Swiss Clinical Trial Organisation (SCTO, project leader) and Médecine Universitaire Suisse (unimedsuisse). The web portal was set up and will be maintained with the help of contributors from the medical faculties of all Swiss universities, university hospitals, the SCTO's Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) Network, and other support and teaching facilities engaged in clinical research.

The need for easily accessible and comprehensive information on clinical research career opportunities was recognised by the deans of the medical faculties and by different expert groups. Furthermore, this need was identified as a political strategy in the Federal Office of Public Health's Roadmap 2016-2021 for Developing the Next Generation of Clinical Researchers (1), which is closely linked to its master plan entitled Federal Measures for the Promotion of Biomedical Research and Technology (2).

More detailed information:

(1)   Roadmap 2016-2021 for Developing the Next Generation of Clinical Researchers

(2)   Federal Measures for the Promotion of Biomedical Research and Technology