What is ACRO?

Why was ACRO formed?

Who can join ACRO?

What are some benefits of membership?

Is ACRO only for large CROs with global outreach?

Does ACRO seek to represent the interests of all CROs?

What are some of ACRO's key achievements?

What is ACRO?

The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) represents the world's leading clinical research organizations (CROs). ACRO is the professional association of companies that include clinical research as a major part of their business. Our members provide specialized services that are integral to the development of drugs, biologics and medical devices. ACRO advances clinical outsourcing to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of biomedical research.

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Why was ACRO formed?

ACRO is the voice of the CRO industry around the world. Established in 2002, the Association represents the industry to research sponsors, regulators and legislators, peer associations, academic organizations, patient groups, the media and the public. ACRO works to highlight CRO expertise in all aspects of clinical research, providing members with essential opportunities to demonstrate the strategic value of partnering with CROs in the development of new medicines and new treatments. Our members are committed to the safe and ethical conduct of clinical research and to the well-being of study participants.

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Who can join ACRO?

As our charter states, membership in ACRO is open to any company "among whose core businesses is that of a clinical research organization which performs clinical research or trials for the pharmaceutical, medical device, or biotechnology industries." Currently, there are three types of ACRO membership. Regular member companies pay dues of $120,000 annually. Each Regular member receives a seat on the Association's Board of Directors, which includes the Regular member's Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, or another senior executive. Associate member companies pay dues of $30,000 annually. They can participate in the selection of one seat on the Board of Directors that represents all Associate members. Affiliate members pay dues of $10,000 annually. This level of membership is designed for emerging CROs.

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What are some benefits of membership?

ACRO members receive significant benefits including:

• Vital access to regulators and policymakers worldwide, in both established and emerging markets.
• A ‘seat at the table’ to take part health policy discussions and decisions.
• Valuable opportunities to collaborate with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device clients on cross-industry initiatives.
• Exclusive members-only events and networking opportunities with colleagues from across the CRO industry as well as research sponsors, peer associations, patient groups, academic organizations, and others.
• Participation in important public-private initiatives to enhance the clinical research enterprise such as The Biomarkers Consortium and the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative.
• Indispensable information and media support for your company to educate on ACRO members’ contribution to research innovation and strong commitment to the well-being of study participants.
• Enhanced visibility with key stakeholders and recognition of company commitment to the highest standards of research ethics and quality through ACRO’s Code of Ethics.
• The latest CRO industry intelligence, research and essential updates as events unfold.

Visit our online membership center for more on the benefits of becoming an ACRO member.

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Is ACRO only for large CROs with global outreach?

Definitely not. ACRO is a broad-based organization that represents the interests of all CROs regardless of their size or regional focus.

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Does ACRO seek to represent the interests of all CROs?

Yes. ACRO represents companies that conduct clinical research as a major part of their business. ACRO seeks to foster a positive environment for all CROs – large and small. We work to advance the understanding of the essential expertise and resources that our members bring to the development of new medicines and new treatments among client companies, government agencies and the public. We also work to increase the role of CROs in drug and medical product development and to provide valuable opportunities for members to further relations with the biopharmaceutical sector. ACRO advocates for laws, regulations and public policies that support all who participate in and benefit from clinical research – including patients, the most important group of all.

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What are some of ACRO's key achievements?

Since 2002, the Association has achieved significant results that benefit ACRO members and the CRO industry, as well as research sponsors and the patients whose lives are improved by the medicines and treatments our members help to develop. Our organization has built a reputation as an expert resource regarding clinical research and innovation in drug development.

The Association raises awareness about CRO expertise in clinical research in presentations and participation at important healthcare-related trade shows and events, and by providing important information through our Web site, industry reports and other communications. As a result of strong fiscal management of the Association, we have also been able to invest in important research studies to help us determine and quantify the advantages of clinical outsourcing to CROs.

The Association serves as a key resource to educate about the CRO industry. We actively work to raise awareness about the vital role of CROs in medical innovation through media outreach, presentations to government bodies and forums such as the Institute of Medicine, and educational events such as our 2003 conference on Clinical Research Participation: Today's Challenges, Tomorrow's Possibilities.

ACRO is recognized as a leading stakeholder in the clinical research enterprise. We have established ongoing dialogue with officials around the world whose policy decisions affect our industry. The Association has been an active participant in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Critical Path Initiative and is represented on agency advisory committees. ACRO has been invited to present on behalf of the CRO industry at stakeholder summits hosted by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and the European Commission, and we hold a seat on the EMEA’s committee of regulators and research sponsors charged with implementing the EU-wide Clinical Trials Directive.

The Association also has leadership roles in important public-private consortia such as the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI), established by the FDA in collaboration with Duke University, The Biomarkers Consortium, run by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, and the CDASH project, which is overseen by the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC).

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