​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​MMS Technical Writing Certificate​

Findlay is now offering three Medical Writing Certificates in conjunction with MMS Holdings Inc. MMS Holding Inc. is an award-winning, data-focused CRO that supports the pharmaceutical and biotech industries with a proven, scientific approach to complex trial data and regulatory submission challenges. Strong industry experience and a data-driven approach to drug development make MMS a valuable CRO partner, creating com​pelling submissions that meet rigorous regulatory standards. With a global footprint across four continents, MMS maintains a 97 percent customer satisfaction rating and was named Most Outstanding Global CRO in the 2019 Biotechnology Awards.  

The courses offered will provide students training in the type of technical writing that is required when writing drug development applications and preparing clinical trial disclosures. Each Certificate will be three credit hours and offered online. The professor will visit Findlay's campus periodically for a face-to-face meeting with students.

Although offered through the College of Pharmacy, students from other UF programs and other Universities, as well as current professionals, are welcome to apply for the course. Students interested in pursuing this certificate can contact Lori Ernsthausen​, Pharm.D. at [email protected]​ or 419-434-5385​.


Purpose of this Certificate Program

To provide practical hands-on training for candidates interested in a career in medical and regulatory writing.

Target Audience

University of Findlay students interested in pursuing a career in medical writing or learning the skills required for medical writing.

Prerequisites

Completion of a minimum of three years academic coursework in a life science or health science field, or permission of the instructor.

Minimum Expectations:

  • Understanding of scientific writing (e.g., through manuscripts, posters/abstracts, grant writing).
  • Must have a strong understanding of the Microsoft® Office suite.
  • Strong desire to understand fundamentals of regulatory writing and the regulatory environment.

Intended Learning Outcomes

  • Describe the United States drug development process
  • Explain the general drug approval process
  • Explain how clinical trials are designed
  • List the components of a clinical trial
  • Write a clinical study protocol (CSP)
  • Write a Clinical Study Report (CSR)

Description of Training Provided

This is a comprehensive hands-on course for the clinical and regulatory focused individual in the pharmaceutical industry that will allow you to apply your skills to almost any regulatory document. This 8-week course provides students with an overview and best practices for writing clinical study protocols and clinical study reports, two of the most common document types in contemporary medical writing. Topics also include a detailed background on the drug approval process and additional insights into the tools of the trade. Templates, ICH guideline content requirements and standard industry guidelines will be covered. This is an excellent program for the scientist interested in a career as a medical or regulatory writer in the pharmaceutical industry and a continued learning opportunity for the writer already working in the field.

Duration

8 weeks

Assessments

Knowledge checks will be performed through quizzes at the end of each session. Evaluation of student outputs will be performed through various assignments and exercises, concluding with a final examination. A minimum of 75 percentage points is required to pass the final examination and obtain certification.

Purpose of this Certificate Program

To train and educate professionals in the field of clinical trial disclosures for reporting to public registries mandated by law and regulated by health authorities.

Target Audience

University of Findlay students wishing to specialize in trial disclosures.

Prerequisites

Completion of a minimum of three years academic coursework in a life science or health science field, or permission of the instructor.

Intended Learning Outcomes

  • Describe the United States drug development process
  • Explain disclosure landscape, with an awareness of legal and ethical framework
  • Define a process to effectively conduct summarizations of different types of clinical trial protocols and results following registry guidelines
  • Define rules for reviewing, interpreting, and summarizing Protocols, Clinical Study Reports, data tables, listings, and graphs
  • Discuss interface capabilities, technical components, and timelines for disclosing on domestic and international registries
  • Define a process for operationalizing clinical trial disclosure workflow

Description of Training Provided

This eight-week course provides training and education for professionals in the field of clinical trial disclosure reporting. This is an evolving regulatory requirement in which the Life Science industry has struggled to maintain compliance; because of its complexities, outsourcing has increased. The skill sets required to learn and excel in disclosures are the focus of this program. This course will provide hands-on experience with writing and reporting to global registries with an emphasis on Clinicaltrials.gov (US) and EudraCT (EMA). Students will learn about the legal and ethical basis for disclosure of the clinical trial protocol and results, beginning with a comprehensive overview of Clinicialtrials.gov and EudraCT. The course will define how to meet the technical requirements of the registries, to effectively summarize protocols and results. Other mandatory international registries will also be reviewed, and workflow processes and systems for operationalizing clinical trial disclosures will be demonstrated. This is an ideal course for the detail oriented, regulatory-focused, compliance-minded scientist or aspirant within the pharmaceutical industry.

Duration

Eight weeks

Assessments

Knowledge checks will be performed through quizzes at the end of each session. Evaluation of student outputs will be performed through various assignments and exercises, concluding with a final examination. A minimum of 75 percentage points is required to pass the final examination and obtain certification.

Purpose of this Certificate Program

Writing the clinical documents of a standard new drug application (NDA) requires an understanding of the drug development process, a strong grasp of scientific principles, and the ability to write clearly and effectively. Our hands-on course for clinical and regulatory-focused individuals in the pharmaceutical industry will allow you to apply your skills to the clinical documents in an NDA submission.

Target Audience

University of Findlay students interested in pursuing a career in medical writing or learning the skills required for medical writing.

Prerequisites

Completion of a minimum of three years academic coursework in a life science or health science field, or permission of the instructor.

Intended Learning Outcomes

  • Describe new drug development in the United States
  • Explain what are the different types of NDA (New drug approval)
  • Explain the role of clinical data in the NDA
  • Explain the regulations and guidelines
  • Describe how to write clinical summary
  • Describe how to write clinical efficacy documents
  • Describe how to write clinical safety documents
  • Describe how to write clinical overview
  • Explain benefit and risk section of NDA
  • Describe how to write ancillary clinical documents in an NDA
  • Description of Training Provided

    Writing the clinical documents of an standard new drug application (NDA), requires an understanding of the drug development process, a strong grasp of scientific principles, and the ability to write clearly and effectively. It also requires a grasp of the type of data included in each module as well as the key purpose each section serves.Our hands-on course for clinical and regulatory-focused individuals in the pharmaceutical industry will allow you to apply your skills to the clinical documents in an NDA submission. This 8-week course will focus on learning how to interpret and organize clinical data and write standard clinical documents in an NDA submission.

    Duration

    8 weeks

    Assessment

    Knowledge checks will be performed through quizzes at the end of each session. Evaluation of student outputs will be performed through various assignments and exercises, concluding with a final examination. A minimum of 75% is required to pass the final examination and obtain certification.

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About the Instructor

Dr. Teresa Ceseña has over 10 years of pharmaceutical writing experience, and has earned her doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan, and leads the Medical Writing department at MMS Holdings Inc., Canton, MI, USA, as Associate Director of Regulatory and Medical Writing.

The Medical Writing team has grown significantly over the past eight years, and one of her key responsibilities has been to ensure that onboarding, training, and mentoring maintain high levels of quality. Prior to coming to MMS, Dr. Ceseña taught at the university level. Dr. Ceseña is responsible for implementing and maintaining processes and training programs for the MMS Medical Writing department and has established and continues to develop a successful mentorship program. She is well versed in the development and deployment of training materials and exercises for both internal and external organizations.

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