CREMA (Clinical Research Education and Management Academy), a premier institute for training and grooming managers for the clinical research industry, has entered into collaboration with William Harvey Research Limited (WHRL) UK. Students at CREMA in India will now get the benefit of getting trained by internationally-renowned faculty provided by WHRL. Further, toppers from CREMA programmes will be sent for exchange programme as interns at WHRL headquarters at Queen Mary University, London.

According to Vijay Moza, chairman, CREMA, "A clinical research professional needs to have a global perspective about the field since clinical trials are conducted globally. Our tie-up with WHRL will help our students get global exposure through lectures by global faculty and the exchange programmes."

Professor Christoph Thiemermann, CEO of WHRL said, "We are confident that CREMA's advanced programmes plus reputed faculty, combined with WHRL's global expertise will help produce competent and industry ready professionals"

WHRL was founded in 1990 by the Nobel Laureate Sir John Vane, FRS, as the trading arm of the William Harvey Research Institute, a world-renowned centre of excellence in pharmacological research. WHRL has worked with many pharmaceutical companies in the US, Europe and Japan to aid their drug development programmes. WHRL is located at the Charterhouse Square Campus of Queen Mary University, London.

CREMA has its centres at Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. CREMA offers courses related to clinical research, including clinical data management and pharmacovigilance. These courses also impart necessary management education to the students.

Right now, there are about 10,000 clinical research professionals working across 280 clinical research organizations in the country. According to a recent McKinsey study, India will need the services of 50,000 CR professionals by 2010-11.