It can be very hard to know what to do with your scientific degree. You may have previously had aspirations to work in pharmaceuticals, or to train as a doctor. During the course of your degree however, did you realise that you were more interested in the theoretical, ethical and practical issues raised by the content of your studies? If so, then playing a vital role in the regulation and distribution of pharmaceutical and chemical products may be what you are suited for.
Regulatory affairs is a profession which you may not know much about, as the term does not often appear in the press. However, you will over the course of your life have certainly encountered its work. Every time you buy a medicine from the chemist, wear makeup, or use veterinary care products on your pet, you are coming into direct contact with products regulated by a regulatory affairs body.
There are regulatory affair branches within companies in every sector of the healthcare industry. These include pharmaceuticals, medicines, nutritional companies and others besides. Regulatory professionals have the job of ensuring that the company they work for complies with the legal standards required by the government of the country they are working in. They will advise the company on the regulatory aspects involved in creating and distributing a specific product.
To become such a key player in ensuring that products are safe and effective is a challenging task indeed. Not only do you need to have a thorough background in a scientific discipline, but you need to have the ability to think critically and to analyse every situation. As well as this, a regulatory affairs professional should be able to work as part of a team and be able to manage projects from beginning to end. Part of the role may well involve presenting information to panels of experts, including doctors and government officials, so clear communication skills are a must.
You may start off working in the research department, or monitoring clinical trials and approvals. Other areas you may become involved in over time include manufacturing and even advertising the product. Over the course of your career in regulatory affairs, you will be able to gain skills in many different areas. Regular Continuous Professional Development is part of the ongoing training you are likely to receive. One important part of the job is to ensure you stay up to date with new information, such as changes in the law and scientific advances. This can prove a challenge when you are working full time, but it will pay off in the long term.
Whilst regulatory affairs is a relatively young profession, it looks set to only increase in importance and influence as the fields of scientific and technological development become more and more advanced. If you have confidence, an eye for detail and a keen interest in the scientific fields, then why not investigate regulatory affairs further and see whether it might be the right job for you?