Foundation of the European CRO Federation (EUCROF)

On Wednesday 19 October 2005 the European CRO Federation was founded.

At Amsterdam Airport delegates representing the local CRO associations from the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Spain, Italy and United Kingdom were represented for the inaugural meeting of the European CRO Federation (EUCROF).

The aims and objectives of EUCROF were defined as:

• Promote the European Union for clinical research.
  
• Harmonise and actively promote the highest quality standards of clinical research.
  
• Focussing their strengths to bring more productive discussions with European bodies (EMEA/EU Parliament/Commission).
  
• Exchange of information between the members.
• Propose thematic discussions with Pharmaceutical Industry representatives e.g. PCMG (Pharmaceutical Contract Management Group) to enhance business relations and identify common causes.
  
• Develop transcontinental relationships with other Associations, eg ACRO (USA), JCROA (Japan).

The first elected President of EUCROF is Mr. Pieter Guelen from ACRON (The Netherlands). As Vice-President Mrs. Dagmar Chase from BVMA (Germany) was elected. Mr. Dominique Gerbet from AFCROs (France) was elected as treasurer and Mr. Jos Garcia from AECIC (Spain) was elected as general board member. The Federation will be established in the Netherlands.

Members of EUCROF are national associations of Clinical Research Organisations (CROs). The current 7 associations are representative of the local CROs network and represent as of today 250 companies.