TRANSFORMING RESEARCH, TRANSFORMING LIVES

With a global footprint of both centralised and speciality labs, Cerba Research is having a transformative impact on both healthcare providers and its patients.

The business is also undertaking its own transformation, as it undergoes a rebrand following its acquisition of Viroclinics-DDL.

“Transforming Research and Advancing Health For You”

Cerba Research is on a mission to leverage patient data and scientific insight to shape and advance clinical trials.

“We provide customised laboratory solutions to support global biotech, pharma, IVD, research organisations and NGOs to improve the lives of patients around the world,” explained CEO Mario Papillon.

With its headquarters in Belgium, Cerba research has a network of laboratories across five continents, spanning the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, South Africa, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

In the time since its establishment in 1967, the group Cerba, and its clinical trials lab business, Cerba Research have grown organically and via a series of acquisitions and partnerships. The last five years has seen the biggest period of diversification.

In addition to continually growing the business through acquisitions of medical laboratories in Europe and Africa, Mario foresees further technological developments for the business.

“Firstly, we are currently undergoing a digital transformation which will see improved access and functionality of logistics, ordering, results and reporting,” shared Mario, “we’ve also seen exciting developments working with NanoString, which enables us to do 3D assessment of biomarkers on biopsies”.

As well as these developments, Cerba Research is investing in a track and trace system for samples, and has had success with an expansive 40-colour measuring platform for white blood cell analysis.

Cerba Research plans to work with more partner laboratories whilst seeking to make more acquisitions in areas of demand.

It may seem tedious to once again mention the Covid pandemic in relation to business. But, when discussing Cerba Research, an innovative company providing world-class clinical trials it would be nonsensical not to mention the impact the business has had. CERBA

In February 2022, Cerba Research acquired world leading diagnostic and clinical trial operation services, ViroclinicsDLL.

The acquisition has enabled Cerba Research to expand its solutions, offering its clients unparalleled scientific expertise.

Whilst Viroclinics-DLL currently sits within Cerba Research, the finalised merger

PROJECT DIRECTED BY: JAMIE WAITE ARTICLE WRITTEN BY: LAURA WATLING process will see the businesses become one. A rebrand in association with the merger will see the business adopt a new tag line - “Transforming Research and Advancing Health For You”.

“We are proud of the acquisition and merger,” said Mario, “whilst we are faced with the challenge of ensuring all of our laboratories and capabilities are integrated, we always ensure the entire team are onboard and involved”.

The Importance of Individuality

Cerba Research’s specialities include studies in oncology and immunooncology, metabolic diseases, virology and infectious disease, inflammatory and autoimmune disease, neurology, and rare diseases.

In addition, its services include expanded central lab, biomarker, IVD, and CDx offerings, as well as support from research

Our DNA

At Cerba Research, you’ll work one on one with experienced scientists committed to helping you succeed. See how our unique values, global footprint, and leadership drive us.

Lab Solutions

From your central lab and biobank to biomarkers to in vitro and companion diagnostics, Cerba Research has the global diagnostic labs and custom assay development expertise to serve all your research needs.

and development through clinical studies and commercialisation of therapies.

In general, it runs 350 trials a year, with the incorporation of 100 new trials per year. In addition, Cerba Research can leverage the data from the Cerba group medical laboratories which see around 45 million patients annually.

“With the vast amount of data we are able to study and collate, we see future opportunities in predictive and personalised medication,” said Mario.

For Cerba Research, uniqueness goes beyond the patient. “We believe in individuality, and not “one size fits all”. We pride ourselves on our flexibility and ability to adapt to the specific needs of and challenges for a client,” shared Mario.

For Mario, this expands to his colleagues, too.

Mario describes the Cerba Research team as “very entrepreneurial” and says there are shared values of “commitment, excellence and boldness,”.

“It is important that our colleagues feel that they are not working in the company, but working on it,” explained Mario, “the transformation of the company is very much owned by its people”.

Colleagues at Cerba Research have the opportunity to develop themselves and their career path, whether that is based

Advanced Testing

Our accurate laboratories and scientific insights accelerate your trial with key diagnostic solutions, such as NGS, NASH studies, IHC staining, and biomarker strategies.

on capabilities or country. Mario has experienced this himself whilst working at the company.

During his time at the business, Mario has had the opportunity to work in Canada, the US, the UK, Switzerland and Eastern Europe (in which he developed the offices). For the last five years he has been based out of the Belgian HQ.

“This has taught me the ability to adapt to the environment and its people. I have to understand when I need to be a mentor, a coach, an orator or a leader to get the best out of my colleagues. Again, one size doesn’t fit all,” he said, “my aim is to build and develop a team. In the long term, you only win as a team”.

A Lasting Impact

As a business within the clinical trials sector, it has many projects to be proud of.

Cerba Research’s virology arm has worked on ground-breaking anti-infective treatment for diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and influenza. This work has been particularly meaningful across Africa.

“Our strong presence in South Africa, one of the eight countries that account for two-thirds of new TB cases, highlights our commitment to lowering the global TB burden,” said Mario.

Cerba Research is also currently embarking on a project with one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies to develop a new polio vaccine. www.cerbaresearch.com

“We are one of the only facilities in the world to be able to take on a study like this,” shared Mario, highlighting the wealth of variety the business can provide.

“Cerba Research has also collaborated with a client to publish a new assay for peer review,” he continued, “this process was then transferred to one of our partners in China for drug development. We’re very proud of the work we are doing with this client and our partner,”.

Of course, as one of the world’s leading clinical development partners, Cerba Research had an important part to play during the Covid pandemic.

The business undertook fast growth to support the necessary trials to combat the outbreak. On the other hand, it saw a huge slowdown in other studies enrolling, for example in oncology.

“We had to think outside the box during this period, and provide help where we could. One way in which we did this was by distributing test kits and analysing samples,” shared Mario.

The Covid journey is not over, and now, Cerba Research is undertaking clinical trials in the US for a new drug.

As the world recovers from the pandemic, the fight certainly isn’t over. But, with an innovative and transformative company such as Cerba Research leading the battle, there is hope for us all, no matter the aggressor.