Sykes opens Chiltern’s new global headquarters
pharmafile | September 1, 2004 | News story | |Â Â Â
Leading independent clinical research organisation (CRO) Chiltern International has opened its new global headquarters in Slough.
Guest of honour Sir Richard Sykes, Rector of Imperial College London and former chief executive of Glaxo Wellcome, was invited to conduct the official opening and made a short speech on European innovation in Research and Development.
About 150 people will be based at the new facility, which is one of eight international offices based in Europe, with a further three US-based.
The company provides clinical operations, project management, data management, biostatistics, medical writing, quality assurance and regulatory and medical affairs services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. It also offers clinical contract personnel services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.
Chiltern recently opened a new Italian office in Milan, an important strategic step for the CRO, following the implementation of the EU Clinical Trials Directives.
"Chiltern is ideally placed to help patients with their drug development objectives in Italy," said Dr Maurio Germinario, clinical development leader and line manager for Chiltern Italy.
"We were the first international organisation to be awarded both a CRO password for the clinical trials database system in Italy, which is linked to the EUDRACT system."
Chiltern is also expanding its recruitment services, strengthening its Integrated Resourcing Solutions (CIRS) department with the appointment of Angie Farrell as resourcing manager.
She will be responsible for building the new scientific division and providing scientific laboratory staff to biotech and pharma companies.
"I believe we are one of the top 10 companies to go to for clinical personnel. I want Chiltern to be in the top five for clinical and scientific personnel," Farrell said.
Finally, Chiltern's Spanish operation was strengthened recently with the appointment of Ana de Lillo as business development executive and she believes the company is in a good position to take advantage of the growing eastern European market.
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