European clinical research infrastructure bolstered as Switzerland becomes ECRIN member

In an exciting development for the European medical research community, Switzerland has officially become a Member Country of ECRIN as of 22 May 2023.

The European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) is a multinational non-profit organization dedicated to improving the conditions for conducting multinational clinical trials in Europe. It works towards enhancing the accessibility and use of the existing clinical research infrastructure to foster multinational clinical studies, thus aiming to improve patient-oriented research. By bringing together scientific partners and networks from various European countries, ECRIN promotes scientific collaboration, helping to advance medical research and patient care across Europe.

The Swiss Federal Council submitted its request for ECRIN membership on April 13, 2022, which was approved at the Assembly of Members meeting in Warsaw a month later. The Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) will represent Switzerland in the Assembly of Members.

The ECRIN network, including its new Swiss member, covers over 361 million European citizens, or 78% of the EU population, across 12 Member countries and one Observer country. This expansion further enhances ECRIN’s capacity to facilitate critical multinational clinical studies.

Victoria Sarraf, the Managing Director of the Swiss Clinical Trial Organisation (SCTO), expressed her delight at Switzerland’s new membership status. “ECRIN and its network are vital partners for us to bolster academic clinical research across borders,” Sarraf said. “We fully support ECRIN’s mission to advance multinational clinical studies in Europe for the benefit of all patients and society at large.”

Future plans for collaborative clinical research

The SCTO contributes to the ECRIN Network Committee with a broad CTU Network across Switzerland, notable for its extensive knowledge in academic clinical research and growing experience with patient and public involvement. Furthermore, the SCTO hosts the European Correspondent, the national contact point for ECRIN, and has developed a suite of harmonised practical tools for clinical research at both the national and international levels under the SCTO Platforms.

ECRIN’s Director General, Jacques Demotes, also welcomed the Swiss membership warmly. “We have been working successfully with the Swiss clinical research community for years, and we look forward to continuing to work closely for the long term,” said Demotes. He added that Switzerland’s membership is a testament to the mutual commitment to developing the national and international scientific community for clinical research.