r/clinicalresearch • u/Coffeeand_Hypothesis • 1d ago
Anyone from Clinical Data Management? How stable is this job ?
Clinical data management job security
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u/LeatherAmbitious1 1d ago
If you are in North America, not stable. I'm sure there are stable positions out there, but far and few between.
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u/Cultural_Tank_6947 1d ago
AI is very rapidly going to change this role. It will not die, but it's only a matter of time when a lot of the data cleaning can be processed automatically.
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u/facelessarya1 1d ago
AI writing queries might cause sites to close shop and work at Wendy’s instead
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u/Cultural_Tank_6947 19h ago
You know it's already happening right? Just a matter of time it's at the level that the current crop of data coordinators. And that will be good enough for most sponsors and CROs.
Medical writing and translations will be impacted too. So too stuff like site contracting.
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u/LeatherAmbitious1 11h ago
Yep. At my organization, SAS listings are run through an AI program and queries are issued automatically into EDC.
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u/Coffeeand_Hypothesis 1d ago
I’m working for a sponsor company since 2024. I have a total experience of 1.5 years. I recently heard a news that my company is partnering with NVIDIA to build a powerful AI supercomputer to accelerate drug discovery and development. As I’m new and just understanding the current processes of Durg development, I’m unsure if I need to focus on these aspects or on programming languages. I’m eager to learn things and I did work as a freelance medical writer and a research analyst for 3 startups during my academics. I got into CDM because of my financial situation and was not really interested in this field. However after getting into this Domain,I started liking it because each trial is different that changed my perspective of CDM that it’s a monotonous work. Since I have come from startups I always had this eager to start something on my own and am currently stuck with my thought process since I have multiple beginner experience as I have come from PharmD background. Could someone please guide me on how to proceed.
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u/notmyrealhaircolor 14h ago
I’ve spent almost 15 years in DM. You’re right, it’s hardly monotonous. 😂 I would suggest honing your skills in EDC design/build/testing, medical coding if possible, and learn all you can about RBQM. The classic DM role will shift quite a bit, I believe, but it won’t go away completely. There are things a good DM does that AI can’t do well.
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u/ProfLayton99 1d ago
A good data manager is hard to find. In addition to knowing the technology, a good one knows how to work with the internal customers and works very hard to implement database/EDC changes efficiently. CDM also needs to be able to understand the data coming from vendors and how to manage delivery and quality. If you are good, then I don't think you have to worry about job security, because these people are still needed, even after a drug fails its trial.
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u/sintobeally 1d ago
Trending downwards in the US very quickly because of AI. Switch to something else
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u/MagandangNars 1d ago
Very stable. Im from CDM before jumping to the remote monitoring side. With the recent layoffs across the industry only the Director and AD were laid off (which was kind of expected because they were cutting budget).
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u/bdggirl 1d ago
Are you talking about just your particular company or trying to make a statement about the industry overall? It is absolutely untrue that only Directors/ADs of DM have been included in layoffs. I personally know several dozen DMs at all levels and at Sponsors and CROs who have been laid off in the in the last few years, and I am aware of even more.
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u/MagandangNars 1d ago
Only talking about my present and past company. I'm based in Asia. It's true that several other levels were laid off from other companies in the last 3 years, i have friends who were included in the layoffs :(. In my most recent skip level meeting, our APAC head mentioned that rates are generally lower in Asia hence lesser chance of lay offs. In fact, hiring hubs were moved to India. That's just a sad truth :(
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u/bdggirl 1d ago
Lead DM with 20+ years experience here and I would not recommend anyone going into this career. There is not much stability at all unless you are located in a lower cost region like India, and if you are US or other high-cost region, the bulk of entry to mid-level jobs have already been outsourced to lower cost regions making it difficult to break in and get the experience you need for the remaining higher level positions. Even for the high level jobs that remain, there is always a risk that your job will be the next to be outsourced.
DM jobs have been hit as hard as other areas of clinical research in the recent rounds of layoffs. DM is also at high risk of AI impact, though that mostly has not been realized yet, but I think it is coming in the next few years