Campbell’s Turner publishes two innovative pharmacy texts

     Dr. Rick Turner, associate professor of Clinical Research at Campbell University’s School of Pharmacy RTP campus, has received contracts to publish two innovative textbooks for pharmacy students.
     The first, “Introduction to Pharmaceutical Statistics in Clinical Trials,” to be published by Pharmaceutical Press (a division of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain), teaches statistics in the context of pharmaceutical clinical trials.
     “After discussing the fundamental principles of scientific investigation, statistics and statistical analysis, each analytical strategy is taught as it relates to a practical application in clinical trials, Phase I through Phase IV,” Turner said. “This novel approach and organization makes the material immediately relevant to pharmacy students.”
     Both descriptive and inferential statistics are covered in the book, and the application of these techniques in summarizing and analyzing data from clinical trials is described, added Turner. Full computational details are provided for all of the analyses taught.
     A second book, “New Drug Development: Design, Methodology, and Analysis,” will be published by John Wiley & Sons, one of the top international publishers of scientific books.
     “While the primary market for this book is the professional entering the pharmaceutical biotechnology and clinical trials research industries, it will also be very helpful as recommended reading for pharmacy and clinical research students,” Turner said.
     The book covers the drug discovery research necessary to identify candidate molecules and drug compounds for pre-clinical and subsequent clinical trials and addresses all aspects of drug development research methodology.
     “It illustrates how study design, experimental research methodology and statistical analysis are vital and integrated components of the overall process of bringing a candidate drug compound to market,” said Turner.
     A native of Great Britain, who has lived in the U.S. for 20 years, Turner completed his undergraduate work at the University of Sheffield, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Psychology in 1979. He went on to receive a post graduate certificate in education from Sheffield Hallam University in 1980 and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology with a specialty in cardiovascular behavioral medicine from the University of Birmingham, England in 1984.
     Among other positions, Turner has served as a research assistant professor in the department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an associate professor in the department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia and a Principal Clinical Submissions Scientist at GlaxoSmithKline in Research Triangle Park, N.C. He became an associate professor of Clinical Research at Campbell University in 2005.
     A widely published writer, Turner’s research has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including “Psychophysiology,” “Biological Psychology,” and the “International Journal of Psychophysiology.”
     He is the recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychophysiology from The Society for Psychophysiological Research and a Bronze Award from the GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development Recognition program for his exemplary efforts on the company’s Clinical Trial Register, among others.


Photo Copy: Dr. J. Rick Turner