Introduction to GCP and ICH E6(R3)
4 lessons · 180 min

1.1 What is Good Clinical Practice?
Understand GCP as the international ethical, scientific, and quality standard that protects research participants while ensuring reliable clinical trial data.

A comprehensive, TransCelerate-recognized course covering ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice guidelines for clinical research professionals. This course addresses all 11 ICH GCP principles, investigator responsibilities, and E6(R3)-specific topics including risk-based quality management, data governance, and decentralized trial approaches. Designed for investigators, coordinators, and site staff.
32 lessons · 8 quizzes · 11 hours of content
Part of the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) learning track
Explore the complete course structure before you enroll.
4 lessons · 180 min

1.1 What is Good Clinical Practice?
Understand GCP as the international ethical, scientific, and quality standard that protects research participants while ensuring reliable clinical trial data.

Create your free account to access the complete curriculum and knowledge assessments.
A comprehensive, TransCelerate-recognized course covering ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice guidelines for clinical research professionals. This course addresses all 11 ICH GCP principles, investigator responsibilities, and E6(R3)-specific topics including risk-based quality management, data governance, and decentralized trial approaches. Designed for investigators, coordinators, and site staff.
32 lessons · 8 quizzes · 11 hours of content
Part of the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) learning track
Explore the complete course structure before you enroll.
4 lessons · 180 min

1.1 What is Good Clinical Practice?
Understand GCP as the international ethical, scientific, and quality standard that protects research participants while ensuring reliable clinical trial data.

Create your free account to access the complete curriculum and knowledge assessments.

1.2 Historical and Ethical Foundations of GCP
Trace the evolution of research ethics from the Nuremberg Code through the Declaration of Helsinki and Belmont Report to understand why GCP protections exist.

1.3 The Global Regulatory Landscape
Navigate the international framework of clinical trial regulation, from ICH harmonization to regional requirements across FDA, EMA, PMDA, and NMPA jurisdictions.

1.4 Structure and Scope of ICH E6(R3)
Master the organization of ICH E6(R3) to locate guidance efficiently: the Principles section, Annex 1 operational requirements, Appendices, and Glossary.
4 lessons · 180 min

2.1 Principle 1: Ethical Conduct and Participant Protection
Understand ICH E6(R3) Principle 1 and its six sub-principles that establish participant rights, safety, and well-being as the foundation of all clinical trial conduct.

2.2 Principle 2: Informed Consent Fundamentals
Understand informed consent as an ethical cornerstone requiring voluntary, informed decision-making, including requirements for legally acceptable representatives and assent.

2.3 Diversity, Inclusion, and Vulnerable Populations
Apply ICH E6(R3) Principle 1.4 to design enrollment strategies that ensure diverse participation while implementing appropriate safeguards for vulnerable populations.

2.4 Decentralized and Technology-Enabled Consent
Implement electronic and remote consent processes that maintain ethical rigor while leveraging technology to enhance participant understanding and accessibility.
4 lessons · 180 min

3.1 Principle 3: Independent IRB/IEC review
Understand the requirement for independent ethical review by an IRB/IEC, including prior approval, continuing review, composition requirements, and procedural safeguards.

3.2 Principle 4: Scientific soundness
Understand the requirement that clinical trials be based on adequate nonclinical and clinical information, reflect current scientific knowledge, and undergo periodic review as new information emerges.

3.3 Principle 5: Qualified individuals
Understand the requirement that all individuals involved in clinical trials be qualified by education, training, and experience, including the expanded emphasis on technology and biostatistics expertise in ICH E6(R3).

3.4 IRB/IEC operations in practice
Master the practical procedures for IRB/IEC submissions, amendments, continuing review, and safety communication that ensure uninterrupted ethical oversight.
4 lessons · 180 min

4.1 Principle 6: Quality by design
Learn how ICH E6(R3) redefines trial quality as fitness for purpose, requiring sponsors to prospectively identify critical to quality factors and build quality into trial design from the outset.

4.2 Principle 7: Proportionate approach
Learn how ICH E6(R3) requires proportionate approaches that scale trial oversight and activities to the actual risks and importance of the data collected, focusing resources where they matter most.

4.3 Principle 8: Protocol requirements
Learn how the protocol serves as the scientific and operational blueprint for clinical trials, requiring clarity, scientific soundness, and feasibility, supported by essential documents including the statistical analysis plan, data management plan, and monitoring plan.

4.4 Implementing RBQM: A practical framework
Learn how to translate quality by design and proportionality principles into actionable risk-based quality management, with practical guidance on risk identification, assessment, control, and ongoing review.
4 lessons · 180 min

5.1 Principle 9: Reliable results
Learn how ICH E6(R3) establishes the systems, processes, and documentation requirements that ensure trial results are reliable enough to support regulatory decisions and clinical practice.

5.2 Principle 10: Roles and responsibilities
Learn how ICH E6(R3) requires clear documentation of roles and responsibilities, establishing accountability frameworks that prevent gaps and overlaps while enabling appropriate delegation with maintained oversight.

5.3 Principle 11: Investigational products
Learn how ICH E6(R3) establishes comprehensive requirements for investigational product manufacturing, handling, storage, and documentation to ensure participant safety and trial integrity.

5.4 Fit-for-purpose systems and computerized systems validation
Learn how ICH E6(R3) replaces one-size-fits-all validation with a fit-for-purpose approach, where system requirements and validation effort scale with data criticality and risk.
4 lessons · 180 min

6.1 Qualifications, training, and resources
Learn the specific regulatory requirements for investigator qualifications, product familiarity, and resource documentation that must be established before a clinical trial begins at any site.

6.2 Responsibilities and delegation
Learn how investigators can delegate trial activities to qualified staff while retaining responsibility, implementing proportionate oversight, and maintaining documentation that enables monitoring, audit, and inspection.

6.3 Communication with IRB/IEC
Learn the specific regulatory requirements governing investigator communications with the IRB/IEC, including initial submissions, ongoing updates, and prompt reporting of changes that affect trial conduct or participant risk.

6.4 Protocol compliance and premature termination
Learn the investigator's obligations to comply with the approved protocol, properly document and report deviations, apply the immediate hazard exception correctly, and execute premature termination or suspension procedures when trials end unexpectedly.
4 lessons · 180 min

7.1 Medical care and safety reporting
Master the investigator's dual obligation to provide qualified medical care during trial participation and to report adverse events accurately according to protocol-specified timelines.

7.2 Informed consent of trial participants
Master the comprehensive requirements for obtaining, documenting, and maintaining informed consent, including required document elements, re-consent procedures, and consent for participants who cannot consent themselves.

7.3 End of participation and IP management
Master end-of-participation procedures including withdrawal versus discontinuation distinctions, follow-up requirements, and comprehensive investigational product accountability from receipt through final disposition.

7.4 Randomization and unblinding
Master the investigator's responsibilities for maintaining randomization integrity, protecting blinding throughout trial conduct, and executing emergency unblinding procedures when participant safety requires it.
4 lessons · 180 min

8.1 Records and source documentation
Master the fundamental requirements for maintaining accurate, complete, and legible trial records, distinguishing source documents from derived data, and applying ALCOA+ principles to all documentation.

8.2 Reports to IRB/IEC and sponsor
Master the investigator's reporting obligations throughout the trial lifecycle, including progress reports, safety reports, and final reports to both the IRB/IEC and sponsor.

8.3 Data governance fundamentals
Master the new Section 4 data governance requirements of ICH E6(R3), including safeguarding blinding, managing the data lifecycle, and executing proper data corrections, transfers, and finalization.

8.4 Computerized systems requirements
Master the specific requirements of ICH E6(R3) Section 4.3 for computerized systems, including procedures, training, security, validation, release, failure management, support, and user access controls.

1.2 Historical and Ethical Foundations of GCP
Trace the evolution of research ethics from the Nuremberg Code through the Declaration of Helsinki and Belmont Report to understand why GCP protections exist.

1.3 The Global Regulatory Landscape
Navigate the international framework of clinical trial regulation, from ICH harmonization to regional requirements across FDA, EMA, PMDA, and NMPA jurisdictions.

1.4 Structure and Scope of ICH E6(R3)
Master the organization of ICH E6(R3) to locate guidance efficiently: the Principles section, Annex 1 operational requirements, Appendices, and Glossary.
4 lessons · 180 min

2.1 Principle 1: Ethical Conduct and Participant Protection
Understand ICH E6(R3) Principle 1 and its six sub-principles that establish participant rights, safety, and well-being as the foundation of all clinical trial conduct.

2.2 Principle 2: Informed Consent Fundamentals
Understand informed consent as an ethical cornerstone requiring voluntary, informed decision-making, including requirements for legally acceptable representatives and assent.

2.3 Diversity, Inclusion, and Vulnerable Populations
Apply ICH E6(R3) Principle 1.4 to design enrollment strategies that ensure diverse participation while implementing appropriate safeguards for vulnerable populations.

2.4 Decentralized and Technology-Enabled Consent
Implement electronic and remote consent processes that maintain ethical rigor while leveraging technology to enhance participant understanding and accessibility.
4 lessons · 180 min

3.1 Principle 3: Independent IRB/IEC review
Understand the requirement for independent ethical review by an IRB/IEC, including prior approval, continuing review, composition requirements, and procedural safeguards.

3.2 Principle 4: Scientific soundness
Understand the requirement that clinical trials be based on adequate nonclinical and clinical information, reflect current scientific knowledge, and undergo periodic review as new information emerges.

3.3 Principle 5: Qualified individuals
Understand the requirement that all individuals involved in clinical trials be qualified by education, training, and experience, including the expanded emphasis on technology and biostatistics expertise in ICH E6(R3).

3.4 IRB/IEC operations in practice
Master the practical procedures for IRB/IEC submissions, amendments, continuing review, and safety communication that ensure uninterrupted ethical oversight.
4 lessons · 180 min

4.1 Principle 6: Quality by design
Learn how ICH E6(R3) redefines trial quality as fitness for purpose, requiring sponsors to prospectively identify critical to quality factors and build quality into trial design from the outset.

4.2 Principle 7: Proportionate approach
Learn how ICH E6(R3) requires proportionate approaches that scale trial oversight and activities to the actual risks and importance of the data collected, focusing resources where they matter most.

4.3 Principle 8: Protocol requirements
Learn how the protocol serves as the scientific and operational blueprint for clinical trials, requiring clarity, scientific soundness, and feasibility, supported by essential documents including the statistical analysis plan, data management plan, and monitoring plan.

4.4 Implementing RBQM: A practical framework
Learn how to translate quality by design and proportionality principles into actionable risk-based quality management, with practical guidance on risk identification, assessment, control, and ongoing review.
4 lessons · 180 min

5.1 Principle 9: Reliable results
Learn how ICH E6(R3) establishes the systems, processes, and documentation requirements that ensure trial results are reliable enough to support regulatory decisions and clinical practice.

5.2 Principle 10: Roles and responsibilities
Learn how ICH E6(R3) requires clear documentation of roles and responsibilities, establishing accountability frameworks that prevent gaps and overlaps while enabling appropriate delegation with maintained oversight.

5.3 Principle 11: Investigational products
Learn how ICH E6(R3) establishes comprehensive requirements for investigational product manufacturing, handling, storage, and documentation to ensure participant safety and trial integrity.

5.4 Fit-for-purpose systems and computerized systems validation
Learn how ICH E6(R3) replaces one-size-fits-all validation with a fit-for-purpose approach, where system requirements and validation effort scale with data criticality and risk.
4 lessons · 180 min

6.1 Qualifications, training, and resources
Learn the specific regulatory requirements for investigator qualifications, product familiarity, and resource documentation that must be established before a clinical trial begins at any site.

6.2 Responsibilities and delegation
Learn how investigators can delegate trial activities to qualified staff while retaining responsibility, implementing proportionate oversight, and maintaining documentation that enables monitoring, audit, and inspection.

6.3 Communication with IRB/IEC
Learn the specific regulatory requirements governing investigator communications with the IRB/IEC, including initial submissions, ongoing updates, and prompt reporting of changes that affect trial conduct or participant risk.

6.4 Protocol compliance and premature termination
Learn the investigator's obligations to comply with the approved protocol, properly document and report deviations, apply the immediate hazard exception correctly, and execute premature termination or suspension procedures when trials end unexpectedly.
4 lessons · 180 min

7.1 Medical care and safety reporting
Master the investigator's dual obligation to provide qualified medical care during trial participation and to report adverse events accurately according to protocol-specified timelines.

7.2 Informed consent of trial participants
Master the comprehensive requirements for obtaining, documenting, and maintaining informed consent, including required document elements, re-consent procedures, and consent for participants who cannot consent themselves.

7.3 End of participation and IP management
Master end-of-participation procedures including withdrawal versus discontinuation distinctions, follow-up requirements, and comprehensive investigational product accountability from receipt through final disposition.

7.4 Randomization and unblinding
Master the investigator's responsibilities for maintaining randomization integrity, protecting blinding throughout trial conduct, and executing emergency unblinding procedures when participant safety requires it.
4 lessons · 180 min

8.1 Records and source documentation
Master the fundamental requirements for maintaining accurate, complete, and legible trial records, distinguishing source documents from derived data, and applying ALCOA+ principles to all documentation.

8.2 Reports to IRB/IEC and sponsor
Master the investigator's reporting obligations throughout the trial lifecycle, including progress reports, safety reports, and final reports to both the IRB/IEC and sponsor.

8.3 Data governance fundamentals
Master the new Section 4 data governance requirements of ICH E6(R3), including safeguarding blinding, managing the data lifecycle, and executing proper data corrections, transfers, and finalization.

8.4 Computerized systems requirements
Master the specific requirements of ICH E6(R3) Section 4.3 for computerized systems, including procedures, training, security, validation, release, failure management, support, and user access controls.