The Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) has formed a strategic alliance with Dr. Luis Augusto Russo, president of the Brazilian Society of Investigators, launched in 2007. Its current membership of 300 is comprised mostly of principal investigators and owners of private sites across Latin America.

“Our society is very active, and we organize an annual meeting, whereby we discuss the complex regulatory issues and logistics in Latin America in running a clinical research site. When I heard about SCRS and began to understand its focus on site-related issues, I was anxious to begin exploring collaborative opportunities,” said Russo. “We are looking forward to ensuring the Latin American site voice is heard through the alliance.”

Russo will attend this year’s Site Solutions Summit and will discuss the differences sites face in conducting studies in a global environment. SCRS is planning to host a Latin American Site Solutions Summit in 2014 with the Brazilian Society. All 300 members of the Brazilian Society will now become SCRS members.

Russo said prospects for clinical trials in Latin America are substantial, given the fact that there are 21 countries, 590 million people, many of whom are treatment naïve, and only two primary languages—Spanish and Portuguese. But the regulatory environment is challenging for sites to navigate and those concerns need greater visibility.

SCRS is a trade organization representing global clinical research sites. Its mission is to unify and amplify the voice of the global clinical research site community.