Regulatory Open Forum

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  • 1.  Research paper topic

    Posted 20-Sep-2017 20:16
    Hello, 

    I am currently pursuing Masters in Regulatory Affairs from Northeastern University. I am enrolled in a capstone project and I am in a search for topics related to Risk Management in QA/RA. If anyone could suggest any particular subject/topic/articles which is a recent issue or something which can be comprehensive enough to include in a capstone project that would be a great help.

    Thank you


    ------------------------------
    Harsh Raja
    Northeastern University
    hkr21raja@gmail.com
    (857)-928-6284
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  • 2.  RE: Research paper topic

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 21-Sep-2017 12:33
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    ​Being a graduate from the same program of which you speak- the point of these exercises is for the student to scrub the press releases, study the guidances, releases from the Agency's website and find how that is relevant to your topic. I fine it a bit presumptuous for a fair amount of students and "RAC-seekers" to constantly ask the working community to find (or better yet determine) leads and many times full plans for them without demonstration of taking first steps, preliminary searching, planning, or narrowing of a scope, focus, or topic.


  • 3.  RE: Research paper topic

    Posted 21-Sep-2017 23:08
    Thank you for your prompt 'Anonymous' reply. I just wanted to let you know that there is a difference between finding leads and asking for suggestions.

    Also, being a graduate from the same course, you should know that how much an input from a group full of experienced people matters during such situations. 

    Anyways thanks for stating the motive behind the coursework provided to students. I am more open to accept suggestions regarding my topic rather than being informed about the academic framework.


  • 4.  RE: Research paper topic

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 22-Sep-2017 10:45
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    ​I agree with the response from the anonymous! Mr. Raja, please go through your course work and see which interests you the most and then do some research like the Anonymous suggested and you will come up with a topic. This is just a suggestion.
    Best of luck!


  • 5.  RE: Research paper topic

    Posted 22-Sep-2017 12:24
    That could be said of every request for information that is posted to this forum, which is to say, of virtually every post to this forum.

    I don't see any need for someone to show evidence that they have done prior research on the question.  That would be a waste of their time, pixels, and our time, unless it is necessary in order to clarify the question.  Otherwise, just get to the question, please. 

    I do sometimes cringe when I see clear evidence that someone has not done their homework first, but there is no evidence that this is the case with this request. 

    Even so, I am also keenly aware that working RA professionals not infrequently find themselves in a situation where they need to make a temporary departure into an area that they normally do not work in, and therefore the amount of time needed to orient themselves to the area is not commensurate with the level of information or understanding that they need to get the job done.  I see that as one situation in which this forum has high value to people whose goal it is to make good products available to the patients who need them as expeditiously as possible.  If there is someone available to them that can easily point them to the information that they need, they would not be serving either patients or their employer well by spending their time on in-depth research and study of an area of the regulations that they otherwise have no reason to know, and don't expect to have any need to know again in the foreseeable future.

    In this case, the request is simply for any information that someone can recommend, not a request for anyone to "find (or better yet determine) leads and many times full plans for them without demonstration of taking first steps, preliminary searching, planning, or narrowing of a scope, focus, or topic."  If you have a problem with this types of requests, it would be more to the point to address them in response to one of these types of requests than to a request that is quite appropriate, IMO, and representative of the main purpose served by this Forum.


    ------------------------------
    Julie Omohundro, ex-RAC (US, GS), still an MBA
    Principal Consultant
    Class Three, LLC
    Durham, North Carolina, USA
    919-544-3366 (T)
    434-964-1614 (C)
    julie@class3devices.com
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Research paper topic

    Posted 22-Sep-2017 15:11
    I agree with Julie on this one.

    As an additional point, when I think back to the beginning of my career (and even now, to some extent) - one of the ways I learned was by soliciting input from colleagues. It isn't all that unusual to have a discussion that goes like "hey, I am looking into the requirements for X. I am aware of B guidance but are there others I should check out that I didn't find?" I view queries like this as simply a different form of that kind of learning.

    Now, would it have been nice to get the "I am aware of X" - sure, but not imperative. I am pretty sure the instructors at these programs can tell if the ONLY source was input from others and I feel it is one of the tools we have at our disposal when it comes to continual learning.

    g-

    ------------------------------
    Ginger Glaser RAC
    Vice-President, Engineering
    MN
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Research paper topic

    Posted 22-Sep-2017 12:46
    Edited by Lin Wu 22-Sep-2017 12:46

    HI Raja, for a capstone project, since you have limited time and you also want to avoid ambiguities, if you are interested in medical device, it might be a good idea to look through the ISO 14971, you many want to work on an overview on implementing this standard in medical device risk management activities for products safety, and go to details on what inspires you to find out more from there, and scope your project so that you can finish in two semesters.  Just an idea to share...



    ------------------------------
    Lin Wu, RAC
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  • 8.  RE: Research paper topic

    Posted 23-Sep-2017 06:35

    Hi Raja:

    On ISO 14971 the European Commission DG SANCO found conflict between the standard and Medical Device Directive some years ago. While this was based on a "letter" rather then "spirit of the law" interpretation there are philosophical pros and cons on many of the issues raised, for example:
     - whether negligible risks should be eliminated
     - whether economic factors should be considered
     - whether residual risk should be unaffected by labeling (as most people do not read it)
    I feel we may have been too quick to support the accepted dogma anddismiss the concerns on certain issues as "lawyers meddling in quality philosophy they do not understand". I have not seen any independent research (i.e. without an predetermined agenda) on the issues raised and whether best practice could lie somewhere between the EU and US views.
    If you wrote a paper in this area, I would want to read it!
    All the Best with the paper
    Neil

    ------------------------------
    Neil Armstrong FRAPS
    CEO
    MeddiQuest Limited
    Peterborough
    United Kingdom
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Research paper topic

    Posted 24-Sep-2017 07:38
    Harsh,

    If anyone could suggest any particular subject/topic

    One of my professional goals has been to insanely share good regulatory information with the public.

    I would suggest the following topics for your consideration. 

    - US laws and regulations for drugs or devices - then, now and future!
    - Patient centered device or drug development - key considerations!
    - Patient-focused safety signal detection - systemic methods!
    - Personalized medicine - then, now and future!
    - Medical device safety and better risk management - current methods and what to improve!

    If you are looking for your master's degree thesis topic, you may contact me later privately. You may let your colleagues contact me if anyone is looking for good MS thesis topics. 

    I have a ton of ideas to share for the thesis (MS or PhD) topics in regulatory affairs for free. 

    Thank you.

    s/ David
    ______________________________________________
    Dr. David Lim, Ph.D., RAC, ASQ-CQA 
    REGULATORY DOCTOR
    Phone (Toll-Free): 1-(800) 321-8567

    NOTICE: This communication (including any attachments) may contain privileged or confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this communication and/or shred the materials and any attachments and are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying or distribution of this communication, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited.







  • 10.  RE: Research paper topic

    Posted 25-Sep-2017 08:50
    How about adding the following:

    - Cosmetic Regulations - Global - Past, Present and Future trends
    - OTC products - Domestic and Global Perspectives - Past, Present and Future trends
    - Rx to OTC - Domestic and Global Perspectives - Past, Present and Future trends
    - OTC to Cosmetics Perspectives and potential
    - Labelling Guidelines - Domestic and Global Perspectives - Past, Present and Future trends
    - Claim Substantiation - Domestic and Global Perspectives - Past, Present and Future trends
    - Testing - Domestic and Global Perspectives - Past, Present and Future trends

    R. Falcone