Pinnacle Health Care has organised a one-day conference- 'Clinical Research Management Conclave' on Saturday, at Mumbai. The objective of the conclave was 'Gearing for the new age with a new clinical research management vision". Cygnus Business Consulting and Research was the India Promotion Partner.

Conference focused on aspects such as quality management, clinical trial management, investigators and volunteers, technology, logistics and ethics.

Dr Narges Mahaluxmivala (president, Quintiles Research) spoke on emerging challenges and opportunities for global clinical trials in India, while strategy for clinical research growth and development in India was discussed by Dr Shoibal Mukherjee (senior director, Pfizer Ltd), and Dr Dhananjay Bhakhle (senior director, Aventis Pharma Ltd) talked about managing clinical trials in India. Dr M Venkateswarlu (deputy drugs controller) shared his concerns on mushrooming CRO's in India and on quality standards.

Clinical trial management sessions had raised concerns pertaining to improving the effectiveness of clinical research managers. Efforts were made to understand the difficulties and challenges in recruitment and retention of trial subjects was also discussed.

Senior officials from Bristol Meyers Squib, Cadila Pharma, Cipla, Sun Pharma, Fortis Clinical Research, Manipal Acunova, IRL Synexus, Ranbaxy, iGate Clinical Research and Atlanta Pharma Germany took part in the Conclave.

The conclave had participation from more than 60 CROs from across the country and was also attended by policy makers, hospitals, central labs and senior officials from drug regulatory authorities.