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Clinical Trialist Training Program

The Clinical Trialist Training Program (CTTP) is a NC TraCS initiative that provides 10% salary support for one year of training to develop new site investigators for multicenter clinical trials.

The goal of this program is to engage new clinical trialists who will develop a clinical trial portfolio and generate continued salary support beyond the year of training. This funding opportunity is open to School of Medicine faculty who are in departments that can support clinical research.

Program & Training Experience

The CTTP will provide didactic training and hands-on trial experience including:

  • Participation in a Clinical Trialist Training Bootcamp (view curriculum)
  • Identification of multicenter trials in which to participate as the site Principal Investigator (PI)
  • Feasibility and financial assessments; contract execution and IRB applications; and recruitment strategies, tools, and budgeting for the selected trials
  • Support of TraCS staff knowledge and resources

Key Dates

RFA Release Date:  February 12, 2025
Application Deadline:  March 12, 2025 5:00pm (Extended to March 19, 2025 at 5pm)
Applicant Notification:  Early April 2025
Proposed Appointment Term:  July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Request for Applications

Clinical Trialist Training Program Eligibility Requirements and Application Process

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

  1. Can I participate in the bootcamp if I am not selected for the program or if I am not faculty in the School of Medicine?
    Yes. Participation in the year-long training program with salary support is only open to selected SOM faculty, but any UNC clinical faculty are welcome to attend the bootcamp course.
  2. Do I have to already have a clinical trial opportunity identified in order to apply?
    No. You do not need to have a specific trial opportunity available, but likelihood of available trials related to the applicant’s experience and therapeutic expertise will be considered in the application review process.
  3. Do I need to reduce my current effort to allow for the 10% salary support provided through this program, or can the 10% effort be added on top of my existing effort?
    Selected faculty must be able to reduce existing effort for the one-year period to allow for dedicated effort towards the program without exceeding 100% of full-time equivalent.
  4. What if my current salary is above the NIH salary cap?
    The CTTP provides 10% salary support (+fringe) for salaries up to the NIH salary cap. The current salary cap is $221,900. If your annual salary is above the NIH salary cap, then the remainder of the salary will be cost shared by your department.
  5. Do I have to have prior clinical trial experience?
    Previous clinical trial experience is not required.  The CTTP bootcamp will provide a high-level introduction to conducting clinical trials at UNC. Additional training and educational opportunities exist within TraCS for those who may wish to have more in-depth knowledge of clinical trial processes and regulations. These additional trainings are not required for the CTTP curriculum and are open to the general research community at UNC.