Copernicus Group IRB Enter Strategic Alliance with IRB Services in Canada

Research Triangle Park, NC and Aurora, ON Canada - September 7, 2010 - Copernicus Group IRB (CGIRB), a leading independent institutional review board, today announced a new strategic alliance with IRB Services of Canada. This partnership will enable CGIRB to offer institutional review services to its clients whose clinical research protocols include Canadian sites. The objective of this alliance is to provide CGIRB clients a single solution for ethical review of clinical research protocols and sites in North America.

Each client will work with a dedicated CGIRB single point of contact with team support bridging both IRBs. The integrated team will ensure an expeditious and thorough ethical review and quality client service in full compliance with regulatory and ethical requirements in both countries.

“This alliance will benefit both organizations by providing a seamless service to CGIRB clients who plan to include Canadian sites in addition to US research,” said Jack Corman, CEO and Founder of IRB Services. “I am delighted to be partnering with Copernicus Group IRB, one of the leading independent IRBs in the United States.”

This new alliance, coupled with with CGIRB’s ISO 9001:2008 certification, AAHRPP accreditation, and existing corporate partnerships, will expand on CGIRB’s commitment to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects by providing innovative service offerings and quality review.

“We are pleased to provide this new offering to our clients who have requested additional service extending into Canada. It supports our dedication to superior quality and innovation,” said Bruce Tomason, CEO of CGIRB. “IRB Services is a highly regarded independent institutional review board with deep and insightful understanding of the Canadian research regulatory and ethical landscape nationally and in every province of the country. This alliance will further enhance our shared mission of human subject protection.”