Microsoft

Foundations of Clinical Research

Microsoft

Foundations of Clinical Research

 Microsoft

Instructor: Microsoft

Included with Coursera PlusLearn more

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

7 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

7 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Explain the purpose and lifecycle of clinical research, including preclinical transition and Phase I–IV study goals.

  • Differentiate clinical trial designs and phase objectives across drug and device studies.

  • Describe the major stages of drug development from discovery through post-marketing monitoring.

  • Compare medical device and drug development in regulatory pathways and clinical evidence requirements.

Details to know

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Recently updated!

October 2026

Assessments

15 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer
Taught in English

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This course is part of the Microsoft Clinical Research Coordinator Professional Certificate
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Professional Certificate.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate from Microsoft

There are 8 modules in this course

This module introduces clinical research as the bridge between laboratory science and patient care. You'll learn to explain how therapies progress through preclinical evidence into Phase I–IV human studies using Microsoft Word to produce a professional lifecycle summary. Understanding this lifecycle is essential for every clinical research role, as it frames every task you'll perform on-site.

What's included

1 video2 readings2 assignments

This module introduces the people and organizations that make clinical trials happen. You'll learn to identify each stakeholder's role—from sponsors who fund the research to IRBs that protect participants—and create a visual stakeholder map in Microsoft PowerPoint. Knowing who does what in a trial workflow is critical for coordinators who must communicate with multiple parties daily.

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 assignments

This module breaks down how clinical trial phases differ in their objectives, what they measure (endpoints), and who participates. You'll use Microsoft Excel to build a comparison chart that details each phase's characteristics using provided case studies. Being able to quickly distinguish trial phases is a daily requirement for coordinators reviewing protocols and communicating with study teams.

What's included

2 videos2 readings1 assignment

This module introduces the major categories of clinical trial designs and teaches you to classify studies by their purpose. You'll build a classification matrix in Microsoft Excel that organizes trial designs by type, clinical question, and example. Coordinators encounter diverse study types on-site, and recognizing each design's intent helps you understand protocol structure and participant experience.

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 assignments

This module walks through the complete drug development pipeline from target identification and preclinical testing through clinical phases to regulatory approval and post-market monitoring. You'll create a professional flow diagram in Microsoft PowerPoint that maps each stage and its key activities. Understanding this pipeline is essential for coordinators who need to know where their study fits in a product's journey to market.

What's included

2 videos2 readings1 assignment

This module examines how evidence builds across development stages to support regulatory submissions. You'll analyze which safety and efficacy data are generated at each stage and how earlier evidence supports progression to the next. Using Microsoft Word, you'll produce a written report mapping key checkpoints on a sample drug development pathway, a skill that helps coordinators understand why specific data they collect matters for the bigger regulatory picture.

What's included

1 video2 readings3 assignments

This module compares the device and drug development pathways, highlighting how they differ in intended use, risk classification, iterative design, and the type of clinical evidence required for regulatory clearance or approval. You'll produce a comparative summary in Microsoft Word that demonstrates your understanding of these differences. Coordinators frequently encounter both drug and device protocols, and distinguishing their development logic prevents confusion during study conduct.

What's included

1 video2 readings2 assignments

This module focuses on the operational tasks unique to device clinical investigations, activities that don't exist in drug trials. You'll learn to identify device accountability procedures, operator training requirements, and performance evaluation methods, then organize them into a structured checklist in Microsoft Excel. Recognizing these device-specific activities prepares you to support device study protocols without overlooking critical operational requirements.

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 assignments

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Instructor

 Microsoft
490 Courses3,010,624 learners

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¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.