ACRO Committees:
Through the Association’s many committees, working
groups and other governing bodies, we offer significant
participation to our members’ senior executives
in a variety of leadership, policy setting and networking
capacities. CRO professionals from all fields –
regulatory affairs, legal, marketing, communications
and clinical operations to name a few – benefit
from their active roles in the ACRO’s activities.
In turn, the Association benefits from the expertise
of many of the industry’s most knowledgeable experts
in helping to direct the activities of their industry’s
organization.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee is comprised of member
company executives from the areas of global communications,
corporate marketing and strategy. Members help to shape
ACRO's strategic message and public statements, highlighting
the CRO industry’s expertise in all aspects of
clinical research. The committee direct efforts aimed
at strengthening the public’s understanding about
clinical research and providing outreach to key stakeholders
and the media, overseeing educational events such as
ACRO’s forum on Clinical Research Participation:
Today's Challenges, Tomorrow's Possibilities.
Education and Training Committee
The Education and Training Committee may advise the
Association in regard to the development of educational
and training materials for investigators, research monitors
and coordinators, IRBs and others who are involved in
clinical research. The committee may explore training
initiatives to make available to member companies through
the Association and ways in which to further ACRO's
educational efforts.
Ethics and Clinical Practice Committee
The Ethics and Clinical Practice Committee is made up
of member company representatives with expertise ranging
from regulatory affairs and quality assurance to IT
and biostatistics to clinical development and beyond.
Members lead the Association’s regulatory and
legislative efforts, and have worked on initiatives
such as the development of ACRO's Code of Ethics and
position papers. This group considers the development
of industry standards and best practices, directs collaborative
initiatives with public-private consortiums and other
organizations, and meets regularly with biopharmaceutical
leaders, regulators and health officials, peer associations,
academic groups and others. The committee also oversees
working groups on areas including the European Union and Rest of World
Issues, Quality Assurance and First-In-Human Clinical
Trials.
Policy and Practice Committee
The Policy and Practice Committee is chaired by the
ACRO Secretary and made up of General Counsels of all
Regular Members, ACRO Executive Director and others
designees. The committee advises the Association in
regard to public policy, legislation and regulation,
and directs the activities of Association staff.
Strategic Planning Committee
The Strategic Planning Committee designs ACRO’s
initiatives to demonstrate and communicate the value
of the CRO industry. With Regular Member representatives
from across all sectors of the CRO industry, the committee
provides recommendations on efforts to advance the industry
and highlight CRO expertise in the development of news
medicines and new treatment. This group also oversees
opportunities to facilitate dialogue on issues of importance
to the CRO industry with research sponsors, regulatory
officials, policymakers, patient groups and the public.
ACRO Working Groups
European Union and Rest of World Working Group
The European Union and Rest of World Working Group is comprised
of representatives from fields including global regulatory
affairs, clinical operations and medical affairs. The
working group advises the Association on policy and
regulation impacting clinical research around the world.
ACRO has regular interaction with officials at the European
Medicines Agency (EMEA), European Commission and other
EU regulatory authorities, and the working group helps
directs related activities on issues such as the continued
implementation of the Clinical Trials Directive and
the EMEA's Road Map to 2010. In emerging markets, the
working group provides recommendations on opportunities
to share our members’ expertise on training, research
best practices and the development and implementation
of new regulatory frameworks. The Association has initiated
relations in China with the Ministry of Health and the
State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), in India
with the Ministry of Health and Drugs Controller General
and the Indian Council of Medical Research, and looks
to continue interaction with policy makers in other
regions of the world.
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