For my student work position,
I have the pleasure of working for TRiNDS, a full-service CRO specializing in
neuromuscular disorders (DMD, BMD, FSHD, etc) that also runs the coordinating
center for the CINRG network. Confused by the alphabet soup? Don’t worry, I was
too when I first started. I learned very quickly that the clinical research world
is full of acronyms. Let me break them
down for you.
TRiNDS stands for Therapeutic
Research in Neuromuscular Disorders Solutions. TRiNDS is a contract research
organization (a CRO), a type of company that can support pharmaceutical or
academic centers for their clinical research needs. TRiNDS does not directly conduct
the clinical research, but helps support the clinical operations, data
collection and management, and analyses of research studies. TRiNDS is a unique
CRO in that it specializes in neuromuscular disorders, including (but not
limited to) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD)
and Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD). These are rare, debilitating
diseases that cause progressive loss of muscle function and mobility starting
in early childhood. Several individuals at TRiNDS have worked with the Cooperative
International Neuromuscular Research Group, or CINRG for short. CINRG is a
network of professionals and institutions around the world that have partnered
together to study these rare neuromuscular disorders. Through inter-clinic and
international collaboration, CINRG aims to improve the quality of life for
individuals and families dealing with neuromuscular disorders through clinical
research investigations. TRiNDS grew out of the CINRG coordinating center (CC),
and now continues to coordinate the network activity. So, to sum it all up, TRiNDS is a CRO
specializing in disorders like DMD, BMD, FSHD, etc that also runs the CC for
the CINRG network.
As the TRiNDS Clinical
Research Assistant, I help with the day-to-day and clerical activities at
TRiNDS. Some of my responsibilities include managing company files, scheduling
meetings, and coordinating supplies and equipment needed by the CINRG sites to
collect strength and function assessments. I also help draft company documents,
and I was involved in the development of both the TRiNDS website and the recently-updated
CINRG website. These activities have allowed me to peek inside the world of
clinical research trials and learn about the ins and outs of developing
therapeutics for rare disorders. I have gained an appreciation for how much
time and effort goes into completing a successful clinical trial, and for the dedicated
professionals and brave families who devote their lives to furthering knowledge
about these disorders. While TRiNDS specializes in many neuromuscular
disorders, I have mostly been exposed to trials related to DMD, which has given
me an insight into the amazing Duchenne community. I am in awe of the courage
and optimism of the DMD community, and the more I learn about DMD, the more
inspired I am to get involved and to work to my fullest potential. I am excited
knowing that I will be able to devote my graduate thesis project to furthering
knowledge about DMD.
I
also work with a wonderful and diverse team at TRiNDS, and it has been a joy to
collaborate with and learn from my growing group of coworkers. Two TRiNDS
employees are actually genetic counselors, so it has been very eye-opening to
see how their careers have progressed so far and how they use their skills as
genetic counselors in the world of clinical research. Going into graduate
school, I knew that I wanted exposure to as many different genetic counseling
roles as possible, so I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to learn from
these genetic counselors working in unique positions.
Working
for TRiNDS is shaping my professional identity and helping me grow into the
genetic counselor that I want to be. No matter where I end up after I graduate,
I will continue to utilize the knowledge and lessons learned through this
position, which I know is setting me up for my best future. To say I am
grateful for this experience is an understatement, and I am looking forward to
seeing how the company grows as I continue to work through my second year.
-Julia Stone, Class of 2017
