Profile
Charlotte Ritson
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About Me:
Hello! I’m Charlotte, and I’m a Senior Clinical Research Associate. I live with my naughty (but cute) cat Nico near Glasgow. I love cooking, listening to music, travelling and going to the theatre.
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I’m originally from Durham and still spend a lot of time there – especially to see my parents’ dog who is best friends with Nico. I travel a lot with work but also love to travel on my own – I’ve been everywhere from Blackpool to Ibiza and Tunisia this year, and hope to see more places very soon!
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My pronouns are:
She/Her
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My Work:
My job is to help with the running of clinical trials, working on tests to get new medications available for people who need them.
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I work in lots of different areas but mainly focus on neurology, mostly Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease, and oncology (cancer). I travel across the whole of the UK, but I’m based at home near Glasgow.
At the beginning of a clinical trial, I will be assigned sites – these are hospitals and clinics across the UK who will be taking part. My first task is to help to train the doctors and nurses at each site, to make sure they understand everything they need to know about the trials, to keep their patients safe and comfortable.
Once the clinical trial has started, I will keep in contact with the sites to give them lots of support and updates. I sometimes do this remotely over video call, and other times I will go to see them in person. I also work closely with the pharmacy teams to help them manage the medications.
It is really important that all of the data we collect during the course of a clinical trial is accurate, so this is also a big priority for me and my colleagues. Hopefully, if we get enough data that shows a drug is working, we can apply for it to be approved for use in the UK and further afield.
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Education:
I went to school in Durham, at Framwellgate School. When I was 16, I took scholarship exams and went to Durham High School for Girls for sixth form.
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Qualifications:
I got 12.5 GCSEs which was a lot at the time, though I know people can end up with many more now. I did A levels in English Literature, Biology and Chemistry.
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Work History:
While I was at university, I worked as a carer in various different care homes in the area. This was probably the hardest job I ever had!
After university, I went to work in a hospice briefly, and then I took a job as a research nurse, not really knowing what the job involved. It turned out to be a great leap of faith, as I really enjoyed it. I got to have my own office and worked normal hours for the first time ever.
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Employer:
I work for IQVIA, who are a Contract Research Organisation. They have lots of areas of the business, but my department essentially helps out pharmaceutical companies by managing their clinical trials for them.
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
I wanted to be a doctor for a long time, but work experience in a hospital led me towards nursing. I was really focused on that and thought I would spend my whole career in that field. At univeristy I thought I might eventually progress into academia and work as a university lectuer, teaching nursing students.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Nothing serious, though we all got in trouble for our skirts being too short and wearing too much makeup - looking back as an adult I can see why, it looked terrible!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I'd probably do something like a careers advisor or work in training, I like the idea of helping people get to where they want to be and helping them develop the necesary skills.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
I'm not sure I have one favourite, but I mostly listen to 70s rock.
What's your favourite food?
At the moment I love a really good burger - but it needs all of the toppings and extra pickles!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Happiness, health and an unlimited supply of chocolate/
Tell us a joke.
I met a lovely Dutch man with inflatable shoes last week. I rang him up to arrange a date, but unfortunately he'd popped his clogs.
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