The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) and its members (Members) are dedicated to ethical and lawful behavior in performing clinical research. To evidence this commitment, ACRO has adopted the following principles:

1) Members are dedicated to the protection and maintenance of the rights and safety of human participants in all aspects of clinical research;

2) Members conduct their services with objectivity, accuracy and integrity;

3)  Members adhere to applicable local, national, and/or international laws and regulations in performing clinical research;

4)  Members monitor changes in laws and regulations affecting the rights and safety of human participants in clinical research and the integrity of data to ensure that their policies and procedures conform to those changes;

5) Members support laws and regulations that enhance the rights and safety of human research participants and safeguard the integrity of data;

6)  Members strive to identify and address potential conflicts of interest that may affect the rights and safety of human participants in clinical research and the integrity of data;

7)  Members respect the confidential nature of the health information obtained from individual study participants, as well as the proprietary information of their clients; and

8)  Members promote good clinical practices through appropriate educational initiatives.

Adopted: July 1, 2003