Association of Clinical Research Organization

What Association of Clinical Research Organization does

The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) is a Washington D.C.-based non-profit trade association organized under Section 501(c)(6) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Founded in 2002, ACRO represents 19 member companies including the world's largest contract research organizations (IQVIA, Parexel, ICON, PPD/Thermo Fisher Scientific, Syneos Health, Fortrea, Labcorp) and leading clinical technology providers (Veeva Systems, Medidata/Dassault Systèmes, Oracle Health and Life Sciences, Advarra, WCG, Medable, Florence Healthcare, YPrime, Zelta, Premier Research, Precision for Medicine, and Novotech). Collectively, ACRO member companies employed more than 470,000 individuals worldwide — roughly 125,000 in more than 20 U.S. states and over 73,000 across Europe — and generated $89.4 billion in revenue in 2025, conducting or participating in 7,634 clinical studies involving 1.4 million patients and volunteers across an estimated 592 sponsor companies (57% pharma, 27% biotech, 3% medical device).

ACRO does not develop or sell proprietary technology products. The association functions as an industry advocacy and thought-leadership body, and generates revenue solely through recurring membership dues from its 19 corporate member companies. ACRO's "products" are industry resources: an annual State of the Industry Report, a 7-year RBQM Landscape Survey, a Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT) Toolkit, ICH E6(R3) interpretation resources co-developed with TransCelerate Biopharma, an AI/ML Principles Statement, the weekly Good Clinical Podcast, and a Diversity & Inclusion Site Resource Grants Program. ACRO convenes the Global Clinical Trials Regulatory Summit annually in Washington D.C., bringing together senior regulators from FDA, EMA, MHRA, Health Canada, TGA, CDSCO, NMPA, and PMDA for off-the-record exchange on regulatory harmonization.

ACRO's go-to-market is sales-led and centered on member recruitment: Regular members automatically receive a Board seat, and governance rotates across member-company executives (Chair and Vice-Chair rotate annually). Marketing channels include the Good Clinical Podcast (Season 4), the Informed Content Hub, the State of the Industry Report, the annual Summit, formal regulatory comment letters to FDA/EMA/Congress, and email newsletter updates. The association has extended its advocacy footprint into Europe through coalitions with EFPIA, EFSPI-SIG, and EUCROF, submitting 22 joint comments on the ICH E20 adaptive trial design guideline. ACRO is led by Executive Director Clay Alspach (joined January 2026, succeeding Doug Peddicord after 24 years) and supported by a small operating staff of approximately six people at its 601 New Jersey Avenue NW headquarters.

Name

Association of Clinical Research Organization

Legal name

Association of Clinical Research Organizations

Website

https://acrohealth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ACRO is a Washington D.C.-based non-profit trade association (501(c)(6)) founded in 2002 that represents 19 leading global clinical research organizations and clinical technology companies, advocating for industry policies, producing thought-leadership reports and toolkits, and engaging with regulators including FDA, EMA, and MHRA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association / Advocacy Organization

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Data Management, Biostatistics & Statistical Programming CROs (HLAGAAAF), Pharmacovigilance, Risk Management & Medical Affairs CROs (HLAGAAAH), Real-World Evidence (RWE), HEOR & Epidemiology CROs (HLAGAAAK)

Keywords

• Clinical research advocacy
• Regulatory policy advocacy
• Trade association services
• Clinical trial industry
• Drug development policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ACRO is organized as a non-profit trade association under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. Revenue is generated through membership dues from its 19 member companies, which include leading CROs and clinical technology organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACRO is a non-profit trade association that advocates as the collective voice of leading global clinical research and technology organizations to regulators and policymakers. It delivers regulatory advocacy, thought leadership, industry data and benchmarking, and peer collaboration to its 19 member CROs and clinical technology companies that collectively conduct thousands of clinical trials annually.

Product overview

ACRO (Association of Clinical Research Organizations) is a non-profit trade association (501(c)(6)) representing global clinical research and technology organizations. ACRO does not offer commercial products or services; rather, it serves as a collective advocacy and thought leadership organization for its member companies. The organization facilitates industry collaboration through various committees and working groups, produces research reports and surveys (such as the annual State of the Industry Report and RBQM Landscape Survey), publishes guidance documents and white papers (including DCT Toolkit, ICH E6(R3) interpretation resources, and AI/ML Principles Statement), and hosts educational content including the Good Clinical Podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ACRO Membership Annual membership in a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association providing regulatory advocacy, thought leadership, industry data and benchmarking, peer networking, and committee participation for leading global CROs and clinical technology organizations. Available to Regular and Associate members.
• Global Clinical Trials Regulatory Summit Annual regulatory summit held in Washington D.C. convening senior global regulators (FDA, EMA, MHRA, Health Canada, TGA, CDSCO, NMPA, PMDA) and industry leaders for off-the-record exchanges on regulatory harmonization in clinical trials.

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2025, ACRO members conducted 7,634 studies involving 1.4 million patients
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TransCelerate Biopharma Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACRO partnered with TransCelerate Biopharma Inc. to co-develop resources focused on risk management and data governance to assist stakeholders in operationalizing ICH E6(R3) guidelines. Jointly developed tools including Data Life Cycle Framework, Data Governance Framework, Data Flow Diagram Template, Safeguarding Blinding Considerations Tool, ICH E6(R3) Technology Framework, and Data Matrix Template.
• EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACRO collaborated with EFPIA and other EU industry groups (EFSPI-SIG, EUCROF) to submit 22 joint comments to the European Medicines Agency on the ICH E20 guideline for adaptive clinical trial designs, advocating for flexible approaches and harmonization with other ICH guidelines.
• EFSPI-SIG (European Federation of Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the EU pharmaceutical industry coalition submitting joint comments on ICH E20 adaptive clinical trial guidelines.
• EUCROF (European CRO Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the EU pharmaceutical industry coalition submitting joint comments on ICH E20 adaptive clinical trial guidelines.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DIA (Drug Information Association): DIA is a global, neutral membership organization serving life sciences professionals across the drug development lifecycle. It is a direct peer to ACRO in its membership-based model serving clinical research professionals, though DIA serves individuals and broad stakeholders rather than CRO companies specifically.
• TransCelerate Biopharma Inc. TransCelerate is a non-profit collaboration among major biopharmaceutical companies focused on clinical trial innovation. It shares ACRO's non-profit collaboration model and co-developed ICH E6(R3) resources with ACRO, though it represents sponsors rather than CROs.
• EUCROF (European CRO Federation): EUCROF is the European CRO Federation, representing CROs operating in Europe. It is the most direct peer to ACRO by structure (CRO trade association) and is an active partner with ACRO on ICH E20 comments, but focuses on EU regulatory matters rather than global/U.S.

Broad incumbents

• BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization): BIO is the world's largest biotechnology trade association, advocating for biotech innovation and policy. It shares ACRO's advocacy and policy-shaping model but focuses on biotech developers rather than the CRO/clinical technology service providers ACRO represents.
• PhRMA: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is the primary U.S. trade association for biopharmaceutical companies. Like ACRO, it engages in regulatory advocacy with FDA and Congress, but represents the sponsor side rather than the CRO/service-provider side of clinical research.
• EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations): EFPIA represents the European pharmaceutical industry and is an active coalition partner with ACRO on regulatory submissions. It shares the trade association advocacy model but represents pharma sponsors, not CROs or clinical technology companies.

Emerging players

• RAPS (Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society): RAPS is the largest global organization for regulatory professionals in healthcare products. It shares ACRO's membership-driven advocacy model and focus on regulatory excellence but serves individual regulatory affairs professionals rather than CRO/clinical technology organizations.
• SCRS (Society for Clinical Research Sites): SCRS represents clinical research sites, a key stakeholder group ACRO members serve. It uses a membership/trade association model similar to ACRO but focuses on the site/ investigator side of the clinical trial ecosystem rather than CROs and clinical technology providers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ACROHealthChannel
• Xx.com/acrohealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACROhealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-clinical-research-organizations

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of Clinical Research Organization