Astra Nova and ACRES Partner on Quality and Access of Training for Research Professionals

Astra Nova Training, a global provider of innovative and comprehensive consultancy and pharma training services, and the Alliance for Clinical Research Excellence and Safety (ACRES), a non-profit integrating the expertise and investments of research stakeholders world-wide to build and maintain a global system for clinical trials, are pleased to announce a Strategic Alliance collaboration to improve the expertise of industry professionals through improved and easily available training quality, thus enhancing greater patient safety.

Since its establishment in 2008, UK-based Astra Nova has introduced an international network of over 140 industry experts, based in over 50 countries around the globe. In addition, the company has launched over 20 free and commercial online training courses, accessible on their Learning Management System. More than 5,000 professionals worldwide have obtained industry certification through their in-house and online training solutions.

ACRES, a non-profit organization operating in the public interest, is dedicated to enhancing quality, safety, integrity and operational effectiveness in drug development and health research through the building of a global system for clinical research. To achieve this, ACRES has adopted an Alliance-based model whereby those organizations with a stake in clinical trials being conducted according to the highest standards of safety, quality and efficiency, are the very organizations that—together—build the comprehensive, integrated system to make such excellence possible.

Astra Nova, with its strong commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR), will make available interactive and easy-to access online training solutions for ACRES Global Platform of services. This CSR commitment, mirrored by ACRES, is exemplified in Astra Nova’s Better Industry Initiative (Bii), which provides free and commercial high-quality training courses and other resources with an ultimate goal of better serving patients by equipping future and current industry professionals with more refined skills and workflow efficiency tools.

With Astra Nova, ACRES will provide timely information on critical training topics and materials needed globally and they will partner on Learning Management Systems development. Other collaborative efforts involve jointly organizing multi-stakeholder events dedicated to improving the conduct of clinical research globally.

Astra Nova’s Business Development Director, Ms. Maya Zlatanova said: “Our main goal is to improve patient safety and allow easier access to industry regulations, standards and knowledge. We believe that everyone will benefit from this partnership and the results of this collaboration will become visible in the very first days of establishing it.”

Dr Matthew Whalen, COO of ACRES, noted “ACRES work is conducted through alliances and Astra Nova brings added depth to ACRES network of organizations committed to transforming the world of clinical research”. Whalen added, “We are looking forward to working together with Astra Nova in a variety of ways to realize our shared collaboration goal of providing more innovative solutions, broader standardization, better quality of service, greater safety and increased efficiency.”