The Principles of Clinical Pharmacology course began in 1998 to address the lack of formal training available in clinical pharmacology. The course consists of a weekly lecture series covering the fundamentals of clinical pharmacology as a translational scientific discipline focused on rational drug development and utilization in therapeutics. 

The course has also been of benefit to clinical pharmacology training programs across the United States and has assisted trainees preparing to take the certifying examination of the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology. Likewise, international sites in countries as diverse as Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Peru, the Netherlands, India, and Serbia have participated in the course via webcasting.  The course is taught by faculty members from the NIH, guest faculty from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the pharmaceutical industry, and several academic institutions across the United States.

Since the course began over a decade ago, more than 8,000 people have enrolled in the program and more than 2,500 have earned certificates of participation. This year, the course was offered on the NIH campus and to trainees at 29 other sites, from Fort Detrick in Maryland to Inha University College of Medicine in South Korea.  Through its partnership with the PhRMA Foundation, the Foundation for NIH has raised nearly $300,000 to broaden the program’s reach to include additional remote sites, and to provide honoraria and travel support for guest lecturers.