Clinical Trial Specialist – Imaging
Role Overview
Clinical Trial Specialists – Imaging support the imaging component of clinical research and clinical trials involving medical imaging products, pharmaceuticals, contrast agents, radiopharmaceuticals, medical devices and imaging technologies.
They help establish and coordinate imaging requirements across clinical trial sites, ensuring that imaging examinations are performed according to approved study protocols, applicable regulations and required quality standards.
The role combines clinical imaging knowledge, clinical research, protocol management and coordination across multiple healthcare sites.
What Do They Do?
- Coordinate imaging requirements across clinical trial sites
- Support development and implementation of study-specific imaging protocols
- Work with hospitals, radiographers, radiologists and clinical research teams
- Train and support imaging teams at participating sites
- Ensure imaging procedures follow the approved study protocol
- Monitor image quality and protocol compliance
- Support consistent imaging practices across different scanners and sites
- Coordinate imaging data transfer and study workflows
- Support appropriate image anonymisation and secure handling of study data
- Identify imaging-related issues and coordinate their resolution
- Work with Clinical Research Organisations (CROs), sponsors and clinical trial teams
This role is ideal for: Radiographers who enjoy clinical research, imaging protocols, project coordination, quality management and working with international clinical trial teams.
Where Do They Work?
Clinical Trial Specialists – Imaging may work for:
- Clinical Research Organisations (CROs)
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Contrast-agent manufacturers
- Radiopharmaceutical companies
- Medical device companies
- Medical imaging technology companies
- Imaging software and AI companies
- Specialist clinical trial and imaging organisations
They may work across international clinical trial networks involving hospitals and imaging centres in multiple countries.
Examples of Clinical Trial Activities
Imaging Protocol Setup
The specialist may help:
- Define imaging requirements for the study
- Establish study-specific imaging protocols
- Review scanner and modality requirements
- Standardise imaging procedures across participating sites
- Develop imaging guidance and training materials
- Support site qualification and imaging readiness
Site Training & Support
Activities may include:
- Training radiographers and imaging teams
- Explaining study imaging protocols
- Supporting site initiation and implementation
- Answering imaging-related questions
- Monitoring compliance with study requirements
- Supporting sites when technical or protocol issues arise
Image Quality & Compliance
The role may involve:
- Reviewing image quality
- Checking protocol compliance
- Identifying imaging deviations
- Supporting corrective actions
- Monitoring consistency between sites
- Ensuring images are suitable for the intended study analysis
Imaging Data Management
Depending on the study, activities may include:
- Coordinating image transfer
- Checking that required imaging data are available
- Supporting appropriate anonymisation or de-identification
- Ensuring secure handling of study imaging data
- Supporting imaging data quality checks
Imaging data must be handled according to the applicable privacy, data-protection, clinical-trial and organisational requirements in the countries involved.
Career Development
A possible pathway is:
Radiographer → Specialist Imaging Experience → Clinical Research / Imaging Experience → Clinical Trial Specialist – Imaging → Senior Clinical Trial / Imaging Specialist → Clinical Research or Imaging Leadership
Experienced specialists may also progress into:
- Clinical Research
- Clinical Trial Management
- Imaging Core Laboratory Operations
- Clinical Validation
- Medical Affairs
- Clinical Applications
- Project Management
- Research and Innovation
- Clinical Technology Leadership
Progression depends on clinical experience, research knowledge, imaging expertise and employer opportunities.
Related Career Areas
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Quick Reference
Clinical Trial Specialist – Imaging — Coordinate and support the imaging component of clinical trials, helping sites follow study protocols, maintain image quality and manage imaging data consistently across clinical research programmes.