Clinical Research Course: National Institutes of Health
The Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research (IPPCR) is a free, online course offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that introduces participants to the foundations of conducting clinical research effectively and safely. The course includes expert-led lectures covering topics such as clinical study design, biostatistics and epidemiology, research ethics, human subjects protections, protocol development, patient monitoring, quality assurance, and the legal and regulatory aspects of clinical research. Registered participants who meet the course requirements can earn a Certificate of Completion. Registration is not available year-round, but students can still access individual course lectures through the NIH IPPCR YouTube Playlist or by searching for “IPPCR” in the NIH VideoCast Past Events site. Refer to the course syllabus for the recommended order of lectures.
Who should use this resource:
Students interested in clinical research, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, dentistry, biomedical science, or other health and research careers. It is especially valuable for students currently involved in research, considering research-focused graduate or professional education, or interested in careers involving clinical trials, patient-oriented research, or the development and evaluation of healthcare interventions.
Why it’s helpful:
IPPCR allows students to build foundational clinical research knowledge beyond what they may encounter in their coursework or individual research experiences. Students can learn how research questions become well-designed studies, understand ethical and regulatory responsibilities when conducting research with human participants, and gain exposure to areas such as study design, data analysis, protocol development, and research monitoring. Even when registration is closed, the publicly available lectures make the course useful for students who want to explore specific clinical research topics or work through the curriculum independently. When registration is available, completing the course and earning the certificate can also provide a concrete way to demonstrate additional training and interest in clinical research on a resume or CV.
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