Clinical Research Advantage, Inc. Unveils Three New Offices in Omaha Area

Clinical Research Advantage, Inc.,

(CRA), a provider of a range of  research services to pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations (CROs), announced its expansion into the Omaha/Council Bluffs market with the opening of three local area offices: one in Omaha; one in Bellevue; and one in Council Bluffs.

CRA has forged partnerships with several leading medical practices in the area whose physicians serve as principal investigators of the clinical trials it manages and oversees. As a trial management organization (TMO), CRA helps clinical trial sponsors bring drugs to market more quickly and efficiently. CRA offers a mechanism for medical professionals to conduct phase II-IV clinical research trials. With CRA, pharmaceutical and biotech companies as well as various study sponsors have a resource for conducting clinical trials seamlessly, efficiently and effectively. CRA is comprised of dozens of community-based investigators based throughout the country, and its sites are headed by an experienced staff of clinical research coordinators.

Local CRA offices include those based at Internal Medicine Specialists in Omaha (office of Dr. David Allen); Bellevue Family Practice (office of Dr. Robert Saniuk); and Ridge Family Practice in Council Bluffs, Iowa  (office of Dr. Jennifer Kay). Current plans call for six locations to be in operation throughout the greater Omaha area by fourth quarter of 2011.

 The new offices and principal investigators will focus on trials relating to the following diagnoses as well as others within the realm of family and internal medicine: Type II diabetes, gout, irritable bowel  syndrome, constipation, dysmenorrhea, pediatric flu vaccine, adult vaccinations, COPD, allergy, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

 Concurrent with the office openings, CRA named Tony Romero director of operations. Romero heads the Omaha area operations and brings nearly two decades of related, clinical trial management experience to the company.  He spent 19 years with Creighton University working within the drug  development process, from preclinical proof-of-concept studies through post-marketing studies.

 Mark Hanley, chief executive officer at CRA, was born and raised in Omaha, as was David Bruggeman, president and chief operating officer,  both of whom are driving the company’s recent growth and expansion.  Since acquiring CRA, under their guidance, CRA has grown from six to 23 sites, doubled the employee base and has substantially increased the revenue base.

“The key to CRA’s success lies in the partnerships we forge and maintain  with research departments within established medical practices. We  position our research staff and coordinators right in the physician’s clinical setting, which helps facilitate patient enrollment of reliable, qualified subjects intoclinical trials and fosters better compliance  due to close proximity to the physicians. Ultimately, this helps bring drugs to market rapidly,” Hanley explained.

Tempe, Ariz.-based Clinical Research Advantage, Inc. (CRA) is a provider of a range of research services to pharmaceutical companies and clinical  research organizations (CROs). CRA operates from 23 sites across 12 geographic markets nationwide, helping trial sponsors bring drugs to market more quickly and efficiently. Since its inception two decades ago, CRA has successfully completed more than 1,600 clinical trial studies on behalf of its clients. For more information, please visit

www.crastudies.com

.