The Essentials of Clinical Research course is designed for Stanford or CTSA affiliated faculty and staff engaged in clinical research. This 10-session course introduces attendees to basic principles of clinical research design, including biostatistics; design and interpretation of diagnostic and predictive test studies; required and desired elements of clinical trial protocols. Regulatory aspects of clinical research, conduct and oversight, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and ethical dimensions of clinical research will also be discussed.

Certificate of Participation available based on attendance, participation and evaluation. 

Sessions are held on Thursdays from 4:00PM–6:00PM during Stanford University’s winter quarter.

For more information regarding course content, instructors, and logistics, visit the course webpage or download the course syllabus:

This course provides a step-by-step model for how to design and conduct clinical research. Session topics include the following:

• Getting Started: The Research Landscape
• Design and Conduct RCTs
• Design and Conduct Observational Studies
• Design and Analysis for Diagnosis & Prediction
• Research Reproducibility, Data Management and Collection
• Qualitative Research and Questionnaire Design
• Ethics and Clinical Research
• Developing a Clinical Protocol
• Implementing a Clinical Protocol
• What's Next

Sessions taught by Stanford faculty and staff who are experts in the field of clinical research.

Upon course completion, attendees will have an understanding of how to:

1. Design and analyze clinical research protocols.
2. Comply with “Good Clinical Practice” guidelines for study conduct, data management, and relevant regulations.
3. Apply the principles and practices underlying ethical and reproducible research.

A Certificate of Completion will be presented to those who meet the following requirements:

• Attend a minimum of 8 sessions
• Complete a minimum of 8 session evaluations
• Take post-course knowledge assessment