More than 90 CROs and related service providers in the Kansas City area have banded together to form the BioResearch Central, a collaboration dedicated to accelerating the development of new medicines and medical devices to improve the health and well-being of patients worldwide.

BioResearch Central represents a concerted effort by the contract research community in the Kansas City area to come together to help the pharmaceutical and medical device industries accelerate their pipelines and improve their process for the development of treatments and therapies that will positively impact global health.

"The formation of BioResearch Central helps to reinforce drug and device developers' recognition that our region is able to meet their outsourcing needs," said Tom Krol, director of commercialization of the Kansas Bioscience Authority. "We have a diverse network of CROs and service providers in one central location who generate an estimated $1 billion in revenue every year and employ more than 9,000 people. We expect BioResearch Central will facilitate continued growth for this important sector."

The Kansas Bioscience Authority commissioned Tufts University to conduct a study quantifying the region's CRO and related services assets in the Kansas City area and in competing markets nationwide. The study found that the Kansas City region's more than 90 CROs and related service providers possess tremendous breadth and depth of expertise — one of the most experienced CRO networks across the country. These CROs are equipped to support both established companies and startups in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. The members of BioResearch Central are experienced in the full range of bioresearch services, including discovery, formulation, toxicology, bioanalytics, clinical trials, regulatory and commercial support.  

In recent years, the 16 largest global pharmaceutical firms have all enlisted BioResearch Central companies for contract research services. In addition, BioResearch Central companies have contributed to the successful development of more than 60 pharmaceutical products currently being used to treat patients with a variety of conditions.

"The Greater Kansas City region is a proven destination for pharmaceutical research looking to advance their products through the development process," said Terry Osborn, PhD, MBA, CEO of KCAS Bioanalytical Laboratories, a firm that provides services to drug, biologics and medical device companies. "CROs have contributed to the success of an array of innovative health care products, and the establishment of BioResearch Central will undoubtedly support more innovation, job creation and economic growth in Kansas City's health care community."