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Adverse events refer to any negative patient reaction to a drug throughout the course of a clinical trial. Experience with monitoring and addressing adverse events is a critical skill for clinical trial professionals, as patient health and safety are on the line. Once patients are safe, analysis must take place to determine whether the adverse effect was a result of the drug or an unrelated condition.

A key procedure in the scientific process for biologists, assays are the process by which biologists measure and assess the presence and quantity of the target entities they're studying. Given how essential it is to the biologist's work, its a must-have skill set for job seekers in this field to learn.

In the field of clinical research, data management is less routine and more life-saving. Case report forms (CRFs) are documents used to collect individual patient data from a clinical trial to document patient reactions in the proper, regulatory-compliant format, and they're essential records when coming to a decision about a drug's safety.

Cell structure and function form the focus of this scientific skill set, and it's an essential one to learn for biologists interested in life at its most basic form. In addition to specializing in the study of cells, a knowledge of chemistry, physiology and biology is also helpful.

"Safety first" is the mantra for clinical research, and it's an important skill set to learn for anyone looking to start a career in life sciences. Clinical research involves the study of new medications to ensure their safety and efficacy before gaining approval for consumption by the general public.

Another key set of regulations for quality control specialists to keep in mind, corrective and preventative actions refer to guidelines imposed on clinical research organizations in order to eliminate what's known as "recurring nonconformance." This can usually be achieved by adjusting organizational procedures, documentation processes and other standardized processes to improve operations and keep them on track.

An ongoing process, drug safety reporting involves the monitoring of patient reactions throughout the course of the trial to eventually come to a determination about a drug's overall safety. Those compiling drug safety reports must also stay on top of all regulatory guidelines to ensure their drug meets current safety standards.

High standards of safety and quality don't end once the clinical trial is done. In this case, good manufacturing practices refer to the essential guidelines and quality standards drug manufacturers must meet for their products to be released to the market.