1. Home
  2. Workforce Development

Workforce Development

Workforce Development

The CTSI research workforce development program is designed to build skills, improve employment opportunities, support a dedicated career pathway and meet both individual and organizational needs for clinical research success. The team offers a range of educational opportunities and skill development including both hard skills (specifically technical and professional abilities) and soft skills (communication, teamwork and problem-solving) to ensure a well-rounded workforce.

LAUNCH - Leveraging Amazing Undergraduates in Clinical Research at UCLA Health

LAUNCH is a comprehensive training program designed to equip new graduates with the essential skills for a successful career in clinical research. By providing hands-on experience, LAUNCH fellows gain expertise in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines as well as an understanding of UCLA internal workflows and policies. Workforce development initiative allows LAUNCH to operate at no additional cost to the study team or department. LAUNCH Fellows receive one-year of weekly mentorship from the UCLA Office of Clinical Research.

Key aspects of the LAUNCH program include:

  • In-person, instructor-led training delivered Day 1 of employment develops proficiency and confidence in clinical research. Interactive exercises allow LAUNCH fellows to develop expertise on their assigned protocols.
  • Weekly mentoring supports LAUNCH fellows in their current work as well as fostering connections with future career pursuits.
  • Ongoing training allows for expedited development and pursuit of quality improvement. LAUNCH fellows learn from each other and leverage expertise from program leadership to promote continuous improvement.

LAUNCH aims to develop a highly skilled clinical research workforce while providing insight into resources for a successful career in research. For more information regarding LAUNCH, please reach out to Daniella Escobedo, descobedo@mednet.ucla.edu.

Here’s the 2024 training calendar: https://uclahs.box.com/s/yb5go9zzxbt5vo48kvoo02wg55pfjlfq