US-based contract research organisation (CRO) Averion International has strengthened its European offering by opening an office in Ukraine.

The CRO, which already has offices in Poland and Russia as well as operations centres in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, said Ukraine offered “large patient populations, motivated investigators and a multitude of medical universities/academic institutions”. Averion is currently working on a number of oncology and cardiology studies in the country, and intends further to expand its operations there over the coming months.

Located in Kiev, the new office is headed by Dr Evgeny Levenko, affiliate manager for Averion Ukraine. Levenko has more than 10 years’ experience of managing clinical trials in Ukraine, with particular expertise in cardiovascular diseases, pulmonology, central nervous system diseases, rheumatology and endocrinology. He will oversee project management, monitoring, safety, medical writing and regulatory activities for Averion studies conducted in Ukraine.

The Kiev office is already equipped with “highly experienced” clinical research associates and the plan is to hire additional staff in the months ahead, Averion noted.

Formed in August 2006 from the merger of Averion Inc, IT&E International and Millennix Inc, the CRO specialises in oncology, cardiovascular diseases and medical devices. Its international network extends from the US to Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Germany, Austria and Israel. Averion also has research partnerships in India, Asia and South America.