Centre for Human Drug Research

What Centre for Human Drug Research does

Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) is an independent Dutch foundation (Stichting) headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, operating as a specialized Phase 1 and early-phase Contract Research Organization (CRO). Founded in 1987, CHDR conducts early-stage clinical drug research for pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors, with therapeutic expertise spanning neurology, immunology, dermatology, pain, oncology, psychiatry, infectious diseases, and internal medicine. The organization delivers pharmacodynamic readouts intended to inform sponsor go/no-go decisions on drug candidates, with regulatory approval typically obtained within six weeks of Clinical Trial Application submission. CHDR employs between 251 and 500 staff and maintains a 70,000+ active participant database alongside a peer-reviewed publication library of over 1,000 papers.

CHDR's core differentiator is a portfolio of proprietary in-house methodologies, including the NeuroCart® and NeuroKit® CNS test batteries (covering adaptive tracking, EEG, saccadic eye movement, Milner Maze Test, and other neurophysiological/neuropsychological measures), the PainCart® multi-modal analgesic assessment battery (thermal, electrical, mechanical, and inflammatory pain tests), the Trial@home decentralized trial platform integrated with Anju Promasys EDC, and the Biomarker Engineering and Analytics (BEA) unit that applies machine learning to biomarker data. Clinical operations are delivered from a purpose-built 54-bed Phase 1 unit in the Leiden Bioscience Park, supported by an 8-bed facility at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) for higher-risk compounds and a separate screening unit near Leiden Central Station. A strategic partnership with the LUMC GMP-licensed pharmacy provides end-to-end investigational medicinal product manufacturing, compounding, and dispensation.

CHDR generates revenue through professional services contracts with pharma and biotech sponsors, with pricing negotiated on a study-by-study basis depending on complexity, duration, therapeutic area, and methodological requirements. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales, supported by scientific publications, conference presentations (including EULAR and Nature Medicine), and a dedicated educational platform. As a Stichting under Dutch law with a Supervisory Board appointed by Leiden University, CHDR operates without external private equity or venture capital ownership, funding its growth organically alongside the ~10% of annual revenues reinvested in biomarker methodology development. Recent enterprise engagements include Vertero Therapeutics (VT-5006 gut-selective Parkinson's candidate) and Immutep (IMP761 autoimmune candidate).

Name

Centre for Human Drug Research

Legal name

Stichting Centre for Human Drug Research

Website

https://chdr.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) is an independent Leiden-based Phase 1 and early-phase CRO providing proprietary CNS, pain, and biomarker methodologies (NeuroCart, NeuroKit, PainCart, Trial@home) to pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors, operating from a 54-bed purpose-built unit and an 8-bed LUMC facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Phase 1 & Early-Phase Clinical Research Services (CRO)

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Data Management, Biostatistics & Statistical Programming CROs (HLAGAAAF)

Keywords

• Early-phase clinical trials
• Phase 1 CRO services
• Clinical pharmacology research
• CNS drug testing
• Biomarker analytics

Headquarters

HQ city

Leiden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Clinical Research Services: CHDR generates revenue through providing comprehensive CRO services for early-phase clinical trials. Services include study design, regulatory submission, clinical execution, data management, bioanalysis, and pharmacometrics. Revenue is derived from service contracts with pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors conducting first-in-human, Phase 1, and early-phase clinical trials.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CHDR is an independent Phase 1 and early-phase CRO that designs, executes and reports early-stage clinical drug trials for pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors. Its offering combines full-service CRO capabilities (study design, regulatory submission, recruitment, clinical execution, bioanalysis, pharmacometrics and data management) with proprietary methodology platforms — NeuroCart®, NeuroKit®, PainCart®, Trial@home and Biomarker Engineering and Analytics — delivered from a 54-bed Clinical Research Unit in Leiden, Netherlands.

Product overview

CHDR is an independent Phase 1 & early-phase CRO institute based in Leiden, Netherlands, offering a unified platform combining proprietary CNS/pain testing systems (NeuroCart®, NeuroKit®, PainCart®) with full-service CRO capabilities and advanced biomarker analytics. The core portfolio includes in-house developed testing platforms (NeuroCart®, NeuroKit®, PainCart®) integrated with flexible trial designs (adaptive studies, Trial@home remote monitoring), supported by a state-of-the-art 54-bed clinical research unit. Services span the complete trial lifecycle: study design, recruitment (70,000+ volunteer database), bioanalysis, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, data management, and regulatory support. Specialized methods include EEG, TMS, vascular function models, and advanced sample collection (CSF, tissue biopsies).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NeuroCart®

Quantifiable outcome

• Regulatory approval typically obtained within six weeks of CTA submission
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMP-licensed pharmacy at LUMC serves as trusted partner for early-stage clinical research. The pharmacy is fully licensed for import, manufacture, compounding, and dispensation of study drugs. LUMC pharmacy team works closely with CHDR and sponsors throughout study design and execution. Located in close proximity to CHDR's clinical research unit, enabling efficient delivery of IMPs even for overnight trials. Over 100 pharmacists and support staff operate GMP-certified facilities including clean rooms.
• Proefpersoon.nlcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDedicated recruitment website for study volunteers. CHDR maintains over 70,000 active study participants through this platform. Website serves as primary channel for healthy volunteer recruitment. Provides easy access for potential participants to learn about and enroll in clinical studies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Medpace: Medpace is a mid-to-large full-service CRO with strong therapeutic expertise including CNS and clinical pharmacology — competes with CHDR for sponsor Phase 1b/2a work and embedded scientific engagement.
• PPD (Thermo Fisher Scientific): PPD, now part of Thermo Fisher, is a global full-service CRO with early-development and bioanalytical services that overlap with CHDR's Phase 1 portfolio at the high end of sponsor scale.
• ICON plc: ICON is one of the world's largest CROs offering full-service Phase 1 through Phase 3 and bioanalytical services, including the PRA Health Sciences early-development franchise — competes with CHDR for early-phase work but as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River provides preclinical and early-phase clinical research services including Phase 1 and bioanalysis — overlaps with CHDR on early-stage clinical pharmacology, though it is much larger and broader in scope.
• IQVIA: IQVIA is the world's largest CRO with full-service offerings from early-phase through post-marketing, including significant Phase 1 / clinical pharmacology capacity — a broad incumbent that CHDR competes against for sponsor outsourcing decisions.
• Labcorp Drug Development (formerly Covance): Labcorp Drug Development operates global early-phase clinical research units and central labs with extensive CNS and bioanalytical capabilities — a broad incumbent peer with overlapping Phase 1/clinical pharmacology offerings.
• SGS Health Science (SGS Société Générale de Surveillance): SGS operates a global clinical research business with Phase 1 / early-phase units in Belgium and other European countries, providing clinical pharmacology, bioanalysis, and Phase 2-4 services — a broad incumbent regional peer to CHDR.

Direct peers

• Celerion: Celerion is a dedicated early-phase clinical research CRO specializing in first-in-human, Phase 1, and clinical pharmacology studies with proprietary PD biomarker and challenge-model expertise — directly comparable to CHDR's Phase 1 focus and pharmacodynamics-driven go/no-go positioning.
• Ergomed plc: Ergomed is a mid-sized global CRO with Phase 1 clinical research capabilities (via its acquired Clinical Research Services unit) and therapeutic specialization in oncology, immunology, and CNS — a closely comparable mid-scale peer to CHDR.
• Biotrial: Biotrial is a European Phase 1 / early-phase CRO based in France with extensive CNS, neurology, and clinical pharmacology capabilities, including proprietary challenge models and bioanalysis — a direct regional peer to CHDR's Leiden-based early-phase offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chdr_nl
• Facebookfacebook.com/chdr.nl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for Human Drug Research