Meet Brian, a Data Management Manager: His Journey of a Unique Career Transition

Hi, I'm Brian

I'm the Manager of Data Management (DM) team at PAREXEL Malaysia, where I lead a dynamic team dedicated to supporting the development and discovery of life-saving drugs. My academic background in biotechnology and pharmaceutical sciences has always been closely aligned with my passion for improving healthcare outcomes, a mission I pursue through my work in the pharmaceutical industry.

Before stepping into my current role, I gained valuable experience as a clinical researcher while completing my post-graduate studies. It was during this time that I was introduced to the industry by my postgrad professor, and together, we collaborated on various bioavailability and bioequivalence (BA & BE) studies. This early exposure to clinical research sparked a deeper interest, prompting me to transition into the role of Clinical Research Associate (CRA). This shift allowed me to move from a laboratory setting to one that engaged directly with multiple stakeholders in the clinical research process.

Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of progressing from Senior Site Manager to Regional Site Manager at several pharmaceutical companies and Contract Research Organizations (CROs). These roles gave me the opportunity to develop a broad perspective on clinical trials and enhance my expertise in managing complex clinical operations.

In 2021, I made a significant career transition by joining Parexel Malaysia’s Data Management team during the challenging times of the pandemic. At the time, this was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make, as it meant stepping away from my comfort zone. However, looking back, I take immense pride in the journey that followed. What started as a small team of five has now expanded to over 40 members, marking a tremendous growth milestone for both myself and the team.

What is it like to work as a Clinical Data Analyst?

As a clinical data analyst, our core responsibility is to ensure the integrity and quality of clinical trial data, which contributes to the development of safe and effective medical treatments. The role of a CDA is multifaceted, whereby it can be divided into 3 main categories:
  

Data Management and Quality Control:

• We look for inconsistencies, errors, and missing information and raise queries on the EDC (Electronic Data Capture) appropriately.
• We develop and implement study-specific validation rules to ensure data adherence to the study protocol and regulatory guidelines (ICH-GCP).
• We participate in testing the database and data migration processes to ensure their accuracy and functionality.

Data Reporting and Analysis:

• We generate regular dashboards to provide sponsors with updates on the status of EDC data. These dashboards offer a visual summary of data entry progress, quality issues, and other key metrics.

Study Support:

• We respond to data queries from various stakeholders, including investigators, sponsors, and medical monitors.

  

What are the departments/positions GDO team collaborating with most frequently?

We collaborate and work closely with other functional roles, such as clinical database programmers, medical monitors, statistical programmers, and clinical research associates (CRA), to ensure smooth data flow and address any data-related issues.

  

Can you share the Career Development chances in clinical data management team?

Parexel believes in investing in their employees and retaining talent. It offers a wide range of career development pathways to all of its employees, depending on individual interests. There are specific training curricula designed for each role to ensure consistency and compliance. Parexel empowers employees by providing additional training modules that are highly interactive and insightful, including sessions with external trainers and subject matter experts from the industry.

What kind of advice you’d give to people who’d like to join CDA team as a management level?

Be open-minded and confident to share your expertise as well as opinions. We communicate openly and appreciate great ideas. The team comprises of a group of young, driven and workforces. Since we are a pioneer in this region, our decision makings are highly impactful as it shapes our workflow and processes, hence it is challenging but exciting.

How is Parexel/CRO industry different from the other industry/positions you had worked with?

Parexel is a company that cares about their patients, provides equal and fair opportunities to anyone who is driven to be successful. We embrace diversity and changes, by always encouraging innovation in the way we work.

  

What do you think is the most attractive part of Parexel and CRO industry?

The most attractive part to me is both flexibility and freedom. I feel entrusted to work on flexible hours and work from home whenever I want, as long as results are delivered, and I am available during office hours. In Parexel, we are very supportive and willing to share best practices, so everyone could achieve the best possible results in their projects. We encourage sharing and inspire each other to be successful.

  

Can you share the training provided at Parexel?

At Parexel, we provide a comprehensive introduction to the clinical research industry followed by a series of instructor-led trainings. We utilize an advanced learning management system which comprises interactive online training coupled with quizzes to test one's knowledge. The system automatically tracks your achievements and captures all of your accomplishments in the form of e-certificates. We also offer a wide range of professional courses including soft skills, management skills, etc., to help boost your career development

  

How you use Parexel benefit and what are the best part of it?

Parexel’s benefits are quite flexible whereby you could choose which area you wish to spend on. I usually spend mine on general healthcare, dental, optical, supplements and well-being memberships. Unlike other companies, we do not set a limit or a boundary to a particular category. Every employee enjoys the same amount, but under different priorities, based on individual needs.