Welcome to the website of EUCROF, the European CRO Federation.

 EUCROF was founded in October 2005.

The aims and objectives of EUCROF were defined as follows:

• Promote clinical research of high quality in Europe in general and in the European Union in particular;
• Form a legal entity to represent the interests of CROs in the EU, for example, in transactions with regulatory bodies, the pharmaceutical-biotechnology industry and the medical research community;
• Promote a close relationship and mutual understanding between the national member associations and the above-mentioned bodies;
• Promote the exchange of information between member associations;
• Develop training and educational programmes for clinical research, and assist the national member associations in setting up such programmes and ensuring their quality;
• Distribute information on developments in clinical research to health professionals;
• Organise international conferences and meetings.

Furthermore, the Federation's objectives include: discussions on selected topics with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry e.g. PCMG (Pharmaceutical Contract Management Group) to enhance business relations and identify common concerns, support more productive discussions with European bodies (EMEA/EU Commission), and endeavour to develop transcontinental relationships with other associations e.g. with ACRO in the USA and JCROA in Japan.

At the time being, the Federation consists of members from 7 EU countries : Czech Republic (ACRO-CZ), France (AFCROS), Germany (BVMA), Italy (AICRO), the Netherlands (ACRON), Spain (AECIC) and UK (CCRA).

Since December 2006, the Federation is managed by a new Executive Board (see herebelow) which holds monthly meetings. Each year, the Federation organizes two General Meetings (June & December) with all its members.

EUCROF has created 5 working groups:

1. Bioequivalence: this group will evaluate and compare the bio-equivalence studies and the Phase I studies in Europe;
2. Clinical Research in Europe: this group has been established to evaluate and compare the clinical research activity in each European country (number of clinical studies by therapeutic areas and phases, n° of non-commercial and commercial trials, n° of subjects involved in research...);
3. European  CROs Association: this group will evaluate and compare the characteristics of each European association of CROs;
4. How to start a clinical trial in the EU/EEA: this group collects all information per country as to how to start up a clinicial trial in the respective country; the information is made available to members only and helps members to orientate themselves and also compare country specific practices when planning to commence a clinical trial;
5. Paediatric: this group has evaluated and compared the paediatric clinical research in Europe in collaboration with the EMEA and published articles on the results of the surveys run in various countries.

EUCROF is now "recognized" by European Authorities:

• EUCROF has participated in the EMEA Workshop on Guideline for first-in-man clinical trials for potential high-risk medicinal products in June 2007;
• EUCROF has been invited to participate in a European Commission -EMEA Conference on the Operation of the Clinical Trials Directive (Directive 2001/20/EC) and Perspectives for the Future in October 2007;
• EUCROF has met Mr Fergus Sweeney, Principal Scientific Administrator Inspections Sector, in July 2008.  The objective of this meeting was to establish a permanent working relationship;
• EUCROF is now a well known and recognized European representative for CROs giving them a voice in the EU.

Executive Board:

•  President, Antoine COURNOT (France)
•  Vice-President, Dagmar CHASE (Germany)
•  Treasurer, Anna JURCZYNSKA (Spain)
•  Member, Stefano MARINI (Italy).

EUCROF Secretariat : Nazma ABDUL - EUCROF -  60, rue Carnot - 92100 Boulogne Billancourt (France). Tel: +33 (0)1 46 99 94 54 - Fax: +33 (0) 1 46 99 94 51 - email: nabdul@rpsweb.com - website: www.eucrof.eu