Clinical Research Diploma — MARS Institute
MARS Institute — Limited Cohort Launch

The Clinical Research Diploma
built for the region you actually work in.

A 6-month hybrid programme for pharmacists, systematic reviewers, and life science professionals in GCC and MENA — ready to step into clinical research with the credentials, confidence, and real project portfolio to prove it.

Reserve one of 15 seats Meet your instructor
7Courses
15Seats only
4Real projects
CPDUK Accredited

Our graduates are working now at

IQVIA ClinMax CRO Ray CRO University of Glasgow Dataclin CRO PDC CRO IQVIA ClinMax CRO Ray CRO University of Glasgow Dataclin CRO PDC CRO
A message from your instructor

Why I built this.
And why it matters for you.

This is for you if

You already have the foundation.
This gives you the industry credential.

This diploma is not for absolute beginners. It is built for professionals who already have scientific or clinical grounding — and are ready to translate that into a recognised clinical research career.

PharmD or BCPS holder

You have the clinical depth. You understand drug mechanisms, trial endpoints, and patient populations. This diploma gives you the industry credential to match.

Published systematic reviewer

You understand PICO, literature search strategy, and methodology. You cannot translate that into a CRO or pharma role without an industry-facing credential.

CRO or bioequivalence professional

You have been inside the industry for under two years. You have the exposure but not yet the structured knowledge and credential that accelerates your progression.

Previous clinical research course graduate

You have taken an introductory course and know the basics. This diploma takes you from foundational awareness to professional-grade, CPD-accredited competency.

A different kind of training

Stop training on frameworks
built for someone else's industry.

Most clinical research programmes were designed for Europe or the US. This one was built from the GCC and MENA reality — and recognised everywhere.

The old wayWhat most professionals are doing
Training on global frameworks that do not map to GCC/MENA regulatory realities
Publishing systematic reviews with no clear bridge into industry roles
Applying to CROs and pharma with no recognised industry credential
Building knowledge in isolation with no senior industry feedback
Graduating with theory and no portfolio of real deliverables
Watching less qualified candidates get hired because they had the right credential
Assuming the door to clinical research is closed to you
The MARS wayBuilt for the region. Recognised globally.
Train on a curriculum designed around GCC/MENA contexts — valid in any global market
Learn to position your published research as an industry asset, not just academic
Graduate with a CPD UK accredited diploma that pharma and CROs worldwide recognise
Get your work reviewed by MARS alumni already placed inside CROs
Complete 4 real industry projects that become your proof of capability
Walk into interviews with a CV and LinkedIn repositioned for the roles you want
Enter clinical research through the door built for professionals like you
Same ambition. Same talent. The difference is the pathway.
Full diploma curriculum

Seven courses.
One complete pathway.

Every course is purpose-built for clinical research professionals in the GCC and MENA region. Recorded modules at your own pace, anchored by live Q&A throughout your 6 months.

7Courses
70+Lessons
6Months
CPDUK Accredited
Chapter 1 — What is research (4 lessons)
  • What is research?
  • What is its value?
  • What makes good research?
  • Research method
Chapter 2 — Research question (3 lessons)
  • What is the research question?
  • Elements of the research question — FINER
  • Items of the research question — PICO
Chapter 3 — Literature review (5 lessons)
  • What is a literature review?
  • Medical sources and databases
  • How to write a search strategy
  • Literature review workshop
  • How to find the gap
Chapter 4 — Research methodology (5 lessons)
  • What is research design and why is it important?
  • Overall classification of studies
  • Observational studies
  • Interventional studies and quasi-experimental design
  • Matching study designs to research questions
Chapter 5 — Research ethics (6 lessons)
  • Why ethics is important
  • Basics of ethics in human studies
  • Ethical considerations in clinical trials
  • Authorship guidelines in academic publications
  • Ethical misconduct in research
  • How to conduct ethical clinical research
  • Sample size and power analysis — software and online calculators
  • Cross-sectional studies and surveys
  • Cross-sectional studies and surveys (continued)
  • Unmatched case-control studies
  • Cohort studies
  • Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) — Part 1
  • Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) — Part 2
  • Animal (pre-clinical) studies
Chapter 1 — KAP survey design (7 lessons)
  • Questionnaire development and item selection
  • Pretesting and pilot testing
  • Administration methods
  • Data collection techniques
  • Data entry and management
  • Data quality assurance and control
  • Ethical considerations in KAP survey research
Chapter 2 — Clinical data collection (4 lessons)
  • Basics of clinical data collection
  • Common data collection methods — CRFs and EHRs
  • Electronic data capture tools and platforms
  • Best practices for clinical data collection
Chapter 3 — CRF design, database build and validation (6 lessons)
  • Principles of good CRF design
  • Source document verification and source data review
  • Clinical trial database structure and architecture
  • Edit checks and validation rules
  • Data discrepancy management and query lifecycle
  • User acceptance testing of clinical databases
Chapter 4 — Regulatory compliance and GCP (6 lessons)
  • ICH E6 R3 GCP — what changed and what it means for CDM
  • 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11
  • ALCOA+ — the data integrity framework in full
  • Audit trails, version control and change management in EDC
  • Regulatory inspection readiness
  • Risk-based monitoring and its impact on data review
Chapter 5 — Database lock, CDISC and data transfer (6 lessons)
  • Database lock — process, criteria and CDM sign-off
  • CDISC standards — CDASH, SDTM and ADaM
  • Medical coding — MedDRA and the WHO Drug Dictionary
  • External data management — lab transfers, ePRO and reconciliation
  • Data transfer and define.xml
  • eTMF — CDM responsibilities at close-out
  • Introduction to medical manuscript writing with case studies
  • Understanding the IMRAD structure with case studies
  • Ethical considerations in medical writing
  • Literature review and referencing
  • Writing the introduction
  • Describing methods
  • Presenting results
  • Crafting the discussion, reference and conclusion sections
  • Abstract and title creation
  • Navigating the submission process
  • Understanding the peer review process
  • A comprehensive guide to reference management
  • Module 1 — Introduction to biostatistics in healthcare
  • Module 2 — Descriptive statistics: central tendency, variability, data visualisation
  • Module 3 — Samples, populations, distributions and confidence intervals
  • Module 4 — Hypothesis testing, common statistical tests, p-values and R programming in Posit Cloud
  • Module 5 — Basic parametric and non-parametric tests: t-tests, paired tests
  • Module 6 — Diagnostic and risk statistics
  • Module 7 — Regression and modelling (introduction)
  • Module 8 — Practice and assessment
Chapter 1 — Journal selection (9 lessons)
  • Why journal selection is a critical first step
  • A strategy for creating your journal shortlist
  • How to write an effective pre-submission inquiry
  • Your journal vetting checklist
  • Understanding key metrics
  • Understanding publishing models
  • How to spot and avoid predatory journals
  • How to use journal selector tools
  • Glossary of key publishing terms
Chapter 2 — Peer review process (8 lessons)
  • What is peer review and why does it matter?
  • The main types of peer review
  • What reviewers are looking for
  • The people in the process — roles and personalities
  • How to handle rejection or revise and resubmit
  • Common problems — bias in peer review
  • Common problems — delays and unfair requests
  • Practical guide to anonymising your manuscript
Chapter 3 — Ethics in publishing (7 lessons)
  • Why publishing ethics matter
  • Core principles of academic honesty
  • Ensuring your research is original
  • Using reporting guidelines
  • Ethical approvals for human and animal subjects
  • Finding and citing previous work
  • Paper mills
Chapter 4 — Academic branding (3 lessons)
  • What is academic branding and why it starts with an ID
  • The hammock vs the journey — why your brand needs proactive promotion
  • Your brand's hub — what is an ORCID ID?
Unit 1 — The clinical trial ecosystem
  • The clinical trial ecosystem
  • The trial life cycle
  • What does a clinical operations professional do?
Unit 2 — Trial master file
  • The TMF — purpose and importance
  • The DIA TMF reference model
  • The investigator site file — building and maintaining your ISF
  • eTMF systems — working with electronic trial master files
Unit 3 — Site team and delegation
  • The principal investigator — roles and responsibilities
  • The site team — delegation and roles
Unit 4 — Site qualification and feasibility
  • The feasibility assessment — what sponsors want to know
  • The site qualification visit
  • Arab-specific regulatory considerations
Unit 5 — Compliance and inspection readiness
  • ICH-GCP — the international standard
  • Standard operating procedures
  • Protocol deviations and violations
  • Adverse event reporting in clinical operations
  • Inspection readiness — staying ready every day
What graduates say

Real professionals.
Real outcomes.

These are not students who finished a course. They are professionals whose careers moved because of it.

The course provided a comprehensive overview of the field and equipped me with invaluable knowledge and skills that have further ignited my passion for this realm of study. An incredibly enriching experience that left a lasting impact on my understanding of clinical research.

ZM
Zinelabedin Mohamed
Doctor
Now: Head of Research and Consultancy Unit, Tobruk University

This course serves as a framework for learning the basics of scientific research. It is divided in a simple and professional way — in an order that brings you to the concept of doing scientific research based on ethics.

WA
Walaa Abdelfattah Abdelmaged
Clinical Pharmacist
Now: Head of Clinical Research Unit at her hospital

The course impressed me with its well-structured curriculum, covering a wide spectrum of topics. The modules were thoughtfully designed — each one builds upon the previous one, like going up stairs.

TT
Tarek Mohamed Essa Tohamy
Anesthesia Resident, Assiut University Hospitals

Very informative and systematic. The short videos keep you eager to continue and prevent boredom. I am very grateful for the big efforts and for giving me the chance to be part of this unique course.

RR
Reham Mohamed Aly Rabah
Clinical Pharmacist
Published outcomes

Our graduates do not just get jobs.
They get named in journals.

Zinelabedin Mohamed went on to lead a research project at Tobruk University published in a Wiley peer-reviewed journal — with his student collaborators formally acknowledged by name.

That is the standard we train toward. Not course completion. Career transformation.

Published — Wiley Journal

Acknowledgements excerpt from peer-reviewed publication

"We express our gratitude to all the individuals at Tobruk University who contributed to the data collection process for this study. Specifically, we would like to acknowledge the following collaborators: Sondos Mastor, Shahd Hsaen, Shatha Fayaz, Fatima Alzahra Salah, and colleagues. Their valuable assistance and dedication were instrumental in the successful completion of this research project."

Source: Wiley Online Library — onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Before you look at the price

Do one thing first.
Look up what this credential is worth.

Search Glassdoor or LinkedIn Salary for any of the roles below. Filter by GCC, UAE, Saudi Arabia, or MENA. Look at the range. Then come back.

Clinical Trial Assistant (CTA)
Search on Glassdoor
GCC / MENA salaries
Clinical Data Manager
Search on Glassdoor
GCC / MENA salaries
Medical Writer
Search on Glassdoor
GCC / MENA salaries
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Search on Glassdoor
GCC / MENA salaries

This diploma is built to qualify you for those roles. The CPD UK certificate is the entry ticket that gets your application read. The four portfolio projects are the proof that gets you through the interview. The CV and LinkedIn repositioning session is what places you in the right pile on day one.

The return on this investment is yours to calculate. We simply give you the pathway that makes it possible.

What this is worth

Everything included.
Nothing held back.

A CPD-accredited clinical research diploma typically costs upward of $3,000 alone. Here is what you get in a single enrolment.

What is includedStandalone value
7-course hybrid diploma — recorded modules and live Q&A over 6 months$2,400
CPD UK accredited diploma certificate$800
4 real industry projects — your professional portfolio$600
CV and LinkedIn repositioning session$250
Daily Telegram community — 6 months access$400
MARS graduate peer review panel on your final project$350
MARS Career Track: priority placement support within the MARS professional network until first engagement — awarded to the top 3 graduates by project score$800
Total standalone valueIf purchased separately
$5,600+
Your investment — this cohort only
See offer below
What else is included

You graduate with more than
a certificate.

Portfolio

4 completed industry projects

Four real deliverables you can show any CRO or pharma interviewer as proof of hands-on capability.

Accreditation

CPD UK accredited diploma

Internationally recognised and respected by the global pharma and CRO community.

Positioning

CV and LinkedIn review

A dedicated session translating your scientific background into the language clinical research recruiters respond to.

Community

Telegram group — daily access

Ask questions between sessions, get peer feedback on your projects, stay connected to your cohort for the full 6 months.

Peer Review

MARS graduate review panel

Your final project reviewed by MARS alumni now working inside CROs.

Career Track

Priority placement in the MARS professional network

The top 3 graduates by project score receive hands-on placement support within MARS Global's curated life science network — active follow-up until first engagement secured.

Top 3 graduates only
Your instructor

I built the agency I wished existed.
Now I am building the training I wished I had.

Nouran — Founder, MARS Institute

I am Nouran — PhD, published researcher, and founder of MARS Global, a premium medical communications and clinical research agency operating across the GCC, MENA, and the UK.

I have spent years working alongside Sanofi, IQVIA, and major regional CROs — watching talented pharmacists and researchers be held back not by ability but by the absence of the right structured pathway.

This diploma is what I would have wanted when I was starting. Built from the inside — the industry as it actually operates here, not as it is described in a global textbook.

  • PhD and Master's degree holder
  • Published researcher in Q1 peer-reviewed journals
  • Clinical research industry veteran across GCC and MENA
  • Founder and CEO, MARS Global
  • NHS leadership mentor for minority ethnic professionals
Frequently asked questions

Everything you need
to make your decision.

This diploma is built for professionals who already have a scientific or clinical foundation — not absolute beginners. The ideal profiles are: PharmD holders, board certified pharmacotherapy specialists (BCPS), professionals who have published systematic reviews, graduates of previous clinical research courses who want to go deeper, and those who have worked in a CRO or bioequivalence centre for under two years.
Yes — this is one of the most common profiles we see. Academic publication is valuable but does not translate automatically into industry credibility. This diploma bridges that gap and teaches you how to reframe your research background for CRO and pharma roles.
Approximately 4 to 6 hours per week. Recorded modules are yours to complete at your own pace. Live Q&A sessions are scheduled in advance so you can plan around your existing commitments. This programme is designed for working professionals.
Yes. The programme carries CPD UK accreditation, which is internationally recognised by pharma companies, CROs, and academic institutions globally. The curriculum is built from a regional context but fully aligned with international standards including ICH-GCP.
Each project corresponds to a real deliverable used in clinical research practice — such as a protocol summary, a data management plan, a regulatory submission outline, or a clinical study report section. By graduation you have four portfolio pieces that demonstrate hands-on capability.
Recorded modules remain accessible throughout your enrolment. The Telegram community and Q&A sessions are there to support you whenever you need to catch up or clarify.
Yes. Payment plans are available for both the Egypt and international tracks. Choose the instalment option at checkout and your plan starts with your first payment.
The top 3 graduates across the cohort, ranked by project scores, receive priority access to the MARS professional network with active, hands-on follow-up from the MARS team until they secure their first clinical research engagement. This is not a job board referral. It is a direct introduction into the network that places professionals inside CROs and pharma across the GCC and MENA region.
Limited cohort, 15 seats only

Ready to begin?

This cohort closes when the 15 seats fill. Founding cohort rate — price increases to $1,500 at next intake.

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