Dr. Gudrun Sonvilla

New office head for HCR Eastern Europe in Vienna

As you may be aware, Dr. Barbara Schnurr is now standing down as Managing Director for Harrison Clinical Research Eastern Europe (HCR EE) in Vienna, in order to concentrate her efforts on her role as Director for Quality Management and Board member for the Harrison Group. I would like, therefore, to take this opportunity to formally introduce myself as Office Manager for HCR EE Vienna.

Having joined this affiliate more or less at it’s inception, I have watched the office grow from a rather lonely twosome to a very respectable team of six people. Since June 2008, we have been very fortunate to have had Dr. Barbara Schnurr head up the office, and it has been through her determined and inspired leadership that initial goals have been set and our office has become what it is today. Of course, I am greatly honoured to have been given the chance to take over as Office Manager and very much hope that I will do justice to the high standards that have been set by her.

Our primary aim is to strengthen our position as a CRO covering the Eastern European area, which, based on FDA observations, has been deemed a reliable and proficient arena for the conduction of clinical trials. Although we are all feeling the effects of the worldwide credit crunch, we are confident that we can continue to maintain a high visibility amongst our current clients and contacts as well as forge new partnerships through pro-active business development activities, such as the Bio-Europe partnering congress, the annual summer reception and attendance at other networking events.

Vienna is certainly a well placed, central hub for administering and supervising clinical trial sites in Austria and the neighbouring Eastern European countries, and this geographical advantage has already secured our participation in a number of multi-centre studies. Our future targets are, to continue to be a flexible provider in clinical research and to provide an individual service in Austria and the Eastern European countries. In a business such as ours, its success lies with its people and in this respect I am sure we have laid some strong foundations with the team at HCR EE. True to the spirit of Harrison Clinical Research, we have a small but committed and flexible team. As HCR EE aims to cover the Eastern European region, our strength certainly lies in heterogeneity. Particularly over the past year, I feel that our identity has crystallized and I believe that our future success lies in the cultural diversity, motivation and competency of our team.

All in all, I am very excited about the future. The road ahead will no doubt be filled with potholes, but holes can be filled, areas that maybe warrant some more attention identified and positive changes made. A journey always brings with it surprises, is enriched by learning and often has a desirable destination. We should be in earnest about our goals but never lose our sense of humour. I look forward to your continued valuable support and future work with you all.

Dr. Sonvilla studied Biology at the University of Vienna and after completing a post-graduate course in tumour biology at the medical university, went on to complete her Ph.D in cancer research. She has worked as a biologist in a bacteriological laboratory, as a research scientist in cancer research and has been with HCR EE since August 2007. We wish her all the best in her new position and look forward to our continuing cooperation.

ContactPlease give Dr. Gudrun Sonvilla a call in our Vienna office to see how HCR EE can be of help to you or e-mail her using the contact button.