1.
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: General Information:
Brittany Hutt Caryn Laermer
Director of Marketing Communications Senior Manager, Quality Consortium
Brit@Socialsurgeinteractive.com caryn.laermer@theavocagroup.com
610-212-1230 609.799.0511
The
Avoca
Group
Holds
Quality
Summit
to
Help
the
Industry
Strike
the
Right
Balance
Between
Time,
Cost,
and
Quality
Pharmaceutical,
Biotechnology,
and
Clinical
Research
Provider
Executives
Meet
to
Create
Efficiencies
and
Increase
Quality
in
Clinical
Trials.
PRINCETON,
NJ
(May
16,
2013)
–
The
Avoca
Group,
industry-­‐leading
consulting
and
research
organization
specializing
in
clinical
outsourcing
and
alliance
management,
conducted
its
second
annual
Avoca
Quality
Consortium
Summit
May
8
and
9
in
Princeton,
NJ.
Last
year,
Avoca
formed
the
industry-­‐wide
Avoca
Quality
Consortium
which
brings
together
quality,
outsourcing
and
operational
professionals
from
Member
pharma,
biotech
and
Contract
Research
Organizations
(CROs)
to
accelerate
the
development
of
a
best
practice
approach
to
quality
management
and
oversight
of
outsourced
clinical
research.
The
Avoca
Quality
Consortium
Summit
engaged
more
than
a
hundred
senior
executives
from
the
full
spectrum
of
large
to
small
pharmaceutical
companies
and
leading
clinical
service
providers
in
discussions
on
provocative
topics
concerning
effective
clinical
trial
oversight,
risk
assessment
and
risk
management,
change
management,
and
creating
a
culture
of
quality.
The
consensus
was
clear:
The
industry
needs
to
move
towards
a
more
proactive
approach
to
quality
management
and
risk
management.
While
there
is
no
“one-­‐size
fits
all”
formula
that
can
be
applied
to
all
organizations,
the
Consortium
has
been
able
to
bridge
gaps
and
develop
mutually
agreed
upon
standards
of
quality
that
have
a
built-­‐in
flexibility
with
tailored
modules
that
companies
can
adapt
and
implement
to
meet
their
organization’s
needs
and
pave
the
way
for
improved
outcomes.
This
year,
The
Avoca
Quality
Consortium,
which
now
consists
of
more
than
30
sponsor
and
CRO
Member
companies,
is
focusing
on
creating
specific
guidelines
and
tools
for
proactive
quality
management
and
effective
oversight.
In
addition,
the
Consortium
has
conducted
an
assessment
on
Member
company
approaches
to
risk
assessment,
management
and
sharing
in

2. outsourced
clinical
trials.
Avoca
is
collaborating
with
the
Metrics
Champion
Consortium
and
participates
in
ongoing
discussions
in
other
industry
consortia,
such
as
CTTI
and
Transcelerate,
to
ensure
no
duplication
of
efforts.
-­‐more-­‐
“Providing
insights,
standards
and
tools
for
proactive
quality
management
and
effective
oversight
will
have
a
significant,
positive
impact
on
the
industry
in
terms
of
ensuring
efficiency
while
focusing
on
maintaining
high
quality,”
said
Patricia
Leuchten,
CEO
of
The
Avoca
Group.
“We
are
encouraged
by
the
level
of
commitment
and
interest
by
our
members
and
I’m
pleased
that
Avoca
can
serve
as
a
catalyst
for
change
and
provide
the
venue
for
bringing
sponsors
and
CROs
together
to
discuss
this
important
topic
of
quality
in
clinical
trials.”
To
inquire
about
membership
in
the
Quality
Consortium,
please
contact
Danya
Burakoff
619-­‐
994-­‐8677
or
visit
the
Avoca
Quality
Summit
website
at
http://theavocagroup.com/QualityConsortium
About The Avoca Group
The Avoca Group is an industry-leading organization providing survey research, consulting
services and training in the areas of clinical outsourcing, business development, strategic
alliances and client service. Founded by industry veteran Patricia Leuchten in 1999, the
company works exclusively in the health care industry and has a focus on relationship
management.
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