TRIFT Academy's flagship professional program. Seven standalone and stackable short courses training skilled professionals for careers in clinical trials, data management, pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, and research leadership. Aligned with ICH-GCP, FDA, WHO-UMC, and EMA global standards.

Foundations of Clinical Research

ADCR — Course 1 of 7

Foundations of Clinical Research (FOCR)

4 weeks | 80 hours | Self-paced | $500 USD

FOCR is the flagship introductory course within the Advanced Diploma in Clinical Research (ADCR) — designed by TRIFT Academy in collaboration with the Lutheran University of Liberia (LUL) and TRIFT Alliance to address Africa's growing need for skilled clinical research professionals.

FOCR goes beyond theory to provide a practical, career-driven, and immersive learning experience tailored to the realities of the African research environment — while maintaining ICH-GCP, FDA, and WHO international standards.

What Makes FOCR Stand Out

Simulated Clinical Trial

Step into real roles: Investigator, Coordinator, Research Participant. Experience the full trial lifecycle hands-on.

Career Acceleration

CV development, career pathway guidance, interview preparation for CROs, pharma, NGOs, and research institutions.

African-Centred + Global Standards

Case studies from African trials. AMA, AVAREF, AMRH-NEPAD frameworks. Aligned with ICH-GCP, FDA, WHO.

Capstone Project

Develop a simplified clinical study concept — a portfolio piece for employers and future academic opportunities.

Clinical Research Toolkit

Take-home resources: protocol templates, CRFs, consent templates, adverse event reporting tools.

Industry Experts

Engage with active CRAs, Principal Investigators, and regulatory experts. Mentorship and networking included.

What You Will Learn

  • Understand how clinical trials are designed, conducted, and regulated
  • Apply Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) principles in real-world settings
  • Support participant recruitment and informed consent processes
  • Interpret basic study protocols and case report forms (CRFs)
  • Understand safety reporting and pharmacovigilance systems
  • Contribute to clinical research activities within healthcare facilities

Who Should Apply

  • Nurses, clinical officers, public health practitioners, and health facility managers
  • Early-career graduates seeking an entry point into clinical research
  • Research assistants wanting to formalise their knowledge
  • NGO and development sector professionals
  • Graduates targeting CRO, pharmaceutical, or academic research careers

Course Fee

$500 USD

or 2 × $250 (every 2 weeks)

Pass Mark

65%

MCQ assessments after each module

Scholarship

25% off

next ADCR course on FOCR completion

Certificate

University-Certified

LUL + TRIFT Alliance

Accessibility: All videos in English with English and French subtitles. PDF course materials available offline for each module. Fully self-paced — progress on your own schedule.