Podcast · Tech & Science

Intro to Clinical Research

by Debbie and Elyse · English · Tech & Science

Welcome to the Introduction to Clinical Research Podcast! Join Debbie, a clinical research professional, as she explains clinical research to her friend Elyse. Curious how the COVID vaccine was developed so quickly? Ever wondered what rules determine when you can get a new drug? Remember that one mi

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 54 min
Latest: 28 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

28 Sep 2026 · 39 min

Episode 64 - Generic Medicines

In this episode, we’re talking about generic medicines. We’re going to outline what they are, how they end up on the market and perhaps in your medicine cabinet and the advantages/ disadvantages of them. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References -…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E63 · 7 Sep 2026 · 46 min
Episode 63 - Q & A Again
It is finally time for another long awaited Q&A episode! Elyse is the questioner and Debbie does her best with the pre-researched and prepared answers. Huge thanks to everyone who submitted a question - don’t hesitate to send any more you may have to our email address! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and suggestions into us! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References - https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/…
E62 · 17 Aug 2026 · 55 min
Episode 62 -Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
In this episode, we’re talking about anti-microbial resistance (AMR). The episode will include what we mean by a pathogen, how they may become resistant, how that resistance spreads and what we can do about it. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct6sxh…
E61 · 27 Jul 2026 · 46 min
Episode 61 - Research in the News
It’s time for us to update you on current events, medical research or drugs in the news! We’ve got a few stories at different points in their research journey, from just getting started to failing publicly, and an update on regulation changes in the UK. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References -…
E60 · 6 Jul 2026 · 58 min
Episode 60 - Elyse's Corner: The Interstitium
Episode 60 In this episode, we’re back in Elyse’s corner (hooray!), and today, we’re talking about the interstitium (with a prelude into the human lymphatic system). Don’t worry if you have no clue what either of those things are, we’re doing a basic guide today but check out the references for much more info! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their…
E59 · 15 Jun 2026 · 49 min
Episode 59 - Interpretation of ICH GCP part 2
This is part 2 of our discussion on interpretation of GCP. If you haven’t listened to part 1, I recommend going and checking that out first. We’re covering a few more examples where ICH GCP sets out the principles and practices that should be followed to have harmonised, quality research. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at…
E58 · 25 May 2026 · 51 min
Episode 58 - Interpretation of ICH GCP part 1
Today, we’re finally getting into why Debbie says “it depends” so much in answer to many of Elyse’s questions. We’re looking at how ICH GCP sets out the principles and practices that should be followed to have harmonised, quality research. This is part 1, so stay tuned for part 2 following soon! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at…
E57 · 4 May 2026 · 51 min
Episode 57 - Medical Ethics
Today, Debbie throws us all back into the Philosophy Ravine together to discuss medical ethics. We’re going to talk about what it is and use the framework of Medical Ethics to consider two case studies - the Minnesota Starvation Experiments and Covid-19 Challenge Studies. Content Warning - this podcast does discuss WW2, and experiments where patients chose to restrict their access to food. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm!…
E56 · 13 Apr 2026 · 52 min
Episode 56 - International Collaboration
In this episode, we’re going to be discussing some international collaborations in clinical research! Let’s cross some borders and work together! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References -…
E55 · 30 Mar 2026 · 54 min
Episode 55 - Safety Events & Investigator's Brochure
Hey everyone! We’re back (again!) and we hope you didn’t miss us too much. In this episode, we’re going to be discussing safety events, safety reporting and the compilation of information in the Investigator’s Brochure. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/
E54 · 22 Dec 2025 · 49 min
Episode 54 - Medical Devices
Hey everyone! We’re back and we hope you didn’t miss us too much. In this episode, we’re diving right back in and talking about Medical Devices - what they are, how varied they can be, and how they’re regulated (in general terms!) Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References…
E53 · 6 Oct 2025 · 57 min
Episode 53 - Elyse's Corner: Anthrax Vaccines
In this episode, we’re back in Elyse’s corner (hooray!), and today, we’re talking about Anthrax, and Anthrax vaccines. Maybe you know as little about it as Debbie, or maybe you know loads, but as always, Elyse is going to guide us through this topic from her goblin corner! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/…
E52 · 22 Sep 2025 · 1 hr
Episode 52 - Data Management
In this episode, we’re talking about Data Management because of a listener question - thanks very much Aswini! So, we get into the weeds about the data that is collected as part of a clinical trial and what is done with it - including what “data cleaning” really is! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/
E51 · 8 Sep 2025 · 52 min
Episode 51 - Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Today, we’re going to discuss Good Manufacturing Practice - GMP - which is like GCP but for the manufacturing of drugs, devices, food and cosmetics rather than the clinical processes involved in research. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References -…
E50 · 25 Aug 2025 · 29 min
Episode 50 - Out-takes and unreleased stuff
Wow, 50 episodes of our podcast. How exciting. So, in celebration, I’ve collected together some out-takes and previously un-released material (un-released, in that, we recorded it and I edited it out of the main episode, often for a good reason!) So you have a real mixed bag selection of Debbie stumbling over words, lots of laughter, reading emails out loud to Elyse, and us talking about how to survive the Skull Cave in Stardew Valley, plus so much more. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments…
E49 · 11 Aug 2025 · 56 min
Episode 49 - Patient Reported Outcomes
Today, we’re discussing patient reported outcomes - what are they, how can they be measured and how do they compare to other measures we often use to measure the success (or not) of research. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References https://www.jmir.org/2020/3/e12689/…
E48 · 28 Jul 2025 · 1 hr
Episode 48 - Site Monitoring, part 2
In this episode, we’re talking about the activities broadly referred to as “monitoring” in ICH GCP. We’re going to focus on site monitoring, because of a listener question - thanks very much Rashmi! This is part two (so go back and listen to part 1 if you haven't already), where we look at the detail of the things the monitor gets up to whilst on site (aka at the hospital or clinic) that we didn't cover in Ep 1. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun…
E47 · 14 Jul 2025 · 55 min
Episode 47 - Site Monitoring, part 1
In this episode, we’re talking about the activities broadly referred to as “monitoring” in ICH GCP. We’re going to focus on site monitoring, because of a listener question - thanks very much Rashmi! This is part one (part two will be released in a couple of weeks), where we introduce the concept of monitoring and get into the detail of some of the things the monitor gets up to whilst on site (aka at the hospital or clinic). Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the…
E46 · 30 Jun 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Episode 46 - Elyse's Corner: PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
In this episode, we’re back in Elyse’s corner (hooray!), and today, we’re talking about a topic we all probably had some exposure to during Covid but might not remember a lot about it - PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References…
E45 · 16 Jun 2025 · 54 min
Episode 45 - Contracting in Clinical Research
Alright so we’ve talked about contract research organisations and vendors and suppliers lots, but it’s time to put on our legal hats and discuss contracting! Why is it needed, why is it so widespread, which kinds of things can be contracted and what does GCP have to say about it. If this is what you want to know - you’re in the right place! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome…
E44 · 2 Jun 2025 · 51 min
Episode 44 - Research in the News
It’s time for us to update you on current events, medical research or drugs in the news! We’ve got a couple of stories from Debbie and an update on our favourite shiny rock from Elyse. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy48jynpm8wo…
E43 · 28 Apr 2025 · 48 min
Episode 43 - ICH GCP (R3): The New Version for 2025!
You may have heard us talk about GCP before, the international standard for the conduct of clinical studies globally. But, there’s a new version on the block! This episode is all about why the changes were needed and how they look in practice. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ References -…
E42 · 14 Apr 2025 · 44 min
Episode 42 - Historical Stuff part 3
Episode 42 In this episode, the unexpected third part in our “Historical Stuff” series, Debbie is going to tell Elyse about some tragedies in clinical trials, what occurred, what we learned and the consequences of them. So, heads up, definitely a content warning for this episode, it will include medical outcomes, death (including deaths of children), fetal development, torture, unethical conduct, medical racism (racism in general) - just a whole mixed bag of really terrible stuff. If that doesn’t sound like something you want to listen to, feel free to give this one a miss. Remember, you can…
E41 · 31 Mar 2025 · 56 min
Episode 41 - Pharmacovigilance
Pharmacovigilance is a big work that we’re going to break down in this episode, to look at the data around safety events, or patient experienced side effects in clinical trials and after a drug is on the market. Where does the data come from, and what is done with it. We are going to dive into the WHO definition of pharmacovigilance, and look out for a special appearance from our favourite shiny rock! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make…
E40 · 17 Mar 2025 · 55 min
Episode 40 - Avian Influenza
Episode 40 In this episode, we’re back in Elyse’s corner (hooray!), and today, we’re talking about a hot topic in the US: Bird flu. AKA why my eggs so spensy? Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ Resources/ references - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21505594.2024.2343931?src=recsys…
E39 · 3 Mar 2025 · 57 min
Episode 39 - Clinicians in Clinical Research
Today, we’re talking about the type of clinical staff that are often involved in Clinical Research - including Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists and quite a few more! We’re going to consider what their work as part of research looks like, how it may differ from their usual clinical work and what the benefit is for them. Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out…
E38 · 17 Feb 2025 · 55 min
Episode 38 - Questions and Answers AGAIN!
It is finally time for our long awaited second Q&A episode! We throw questions at each other, though honestly Debbie does answer most of them. Huge thanks to everyone who submitted a question - don’t hesitate to send any more you may have to our email address! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/ Resources:…
E37 · 3 Feb 2025 · 52 min
Episode 37 - Patient Eligibility
In this episode, we’re looking at another fundamental topic central to the conduct of clinical research, which is the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria that are used to determine if a patient is allowed to participate in a clinical trial (after they’ve consented, of course!) What kind of things are used to include or exclude patients, and why might there be a LOT of them? Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our…
E36 · 20 Jan 2025 · 53 min
Episode 36 - A Research Site: A Day in the Life
In this episode, we’re reprising some information we’ve talked generally about before, but with a new perspective - how an average day looks for a site conducting clinical research. Spoiler alert - there’s no such thing as an average day for a clinical research site! Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie squirm! Credit to our friend Sam Winnie for their awesome and cute music. Check out their work at https://www.samwinnie.com/
E35 · 6 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Episode 35 - The Philosophy Ravine
For this episode, we’re taking an enormous detour from our normal content and diving into the philisophody or philisophities ravine, with our wonderful friend Andy. We talk about what philosophy is and why it is important to medical research, whilst investigating discussions around consent, cancer treatment, trauma and pain. Stay tuned at the end for an outtake right when we started recording :) Remember, you can get in touch with us via [email protected]. Please feel free to send questions, comments and compliments for Elyse to read out on the pod. It’s fun to make Debbie…

About Intro to Clinical Research

Intro to Clinical Research is a English tech & science podcast from Debbie and Elyse. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Debbie and Elyse
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 54 min
Latest episode: 28 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1704710653

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