The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and the Investigator Initiated Sponsored Research Association (IISRA) have merged.

The two organizations share a commitment to supporting their membership through the creation of professional development activities, knowledge standards and exchange amongst members. Together, ACRP and IISRA aim to increase the level of service provided to their members by sharing resources through this collaborative partnership.

For members of IISRA this partnership will provide access to ACRP and IISRA knowledge resources through a specialty Interest Group on the ACRP web site (scheduled for launch in May 2013), created for and supported by the IISRA leadership team. IISRA members will have full access to the resources available to ACRP members such as The Monitor, ACRP's peer reviewed journal, and the ACRP Online Community, where a specialized eForum and resource library will be established for IISRA members.

Anton Ehrhardt, Ph.D., IISRA's president, said, “The concentrated IISR expertise of IISRA and the deep clinical research expertise of the ACRP seem to form a synergistic match. Merging the two organizations will provide IISRA members with greater resources, while allowing the IISRA leadership team the avenues to expand our impact within the clinical research environment.”

For ACRP, the partnership addresses a need of the ACRP membership by providing an immediate increase in resources and volunteer expertise in the field of investigator initiated-sponsored research. While the two organizations have worked collaboratively over time, most recently through IISRA leadership presenting a session at the upcoming ACRP Global Conference in Orlando in April, and at the Minnesota chapter of ACRP in May, the partnership marks an official merger of the two organizations.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with the outstanding professionals of IISRA who have made such a superb contribution to clinical research,” said ACRP executive director Jim Thomasell. “The additional expertise in the area of investigator initiated-sponsored research will be invaluable to many current and future ACRP members and further enhances our ability to advance our mission.”

Based in Alexandria, Va., and founded in 1976, ACRP has a worldwide membership of nearly 18,000 research professionals dedicated to the safe and ethical conduct of clinical trials across the globe for new drugs, medical devices, and therapies in volunteer human subjects.

Founded in 2006, IISRA is an independent association of professionals dedicated to promoting excellence in investigator initiated-sponsored research programs. IISRA supports its membership through the development and implementation of educational activities, professional knowledge standards and ethical practices.