Kyiv, Ukraine, 30 September 2026 – The European CRO Federation (EUCROF) and Ukrainian clinical research stakeholders have agreed on a series of concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine’s links with the European clinical research community. This will commence in the coming weeks with the establishment of a Ukrainian CRO Association with a subsequent intention to join EUCROF.
These agreements have been concluded during a visit to Kyiv of EUCROF President Yoanni Th. Matsakis on 28 and 29 September 2026. The visit was scheduled and organized following preliminary discussions that took place at EUCROF26, the annual European Conference on Clinical Research in Amsterdam in February 2026.
During this visit, organised at the invitation of Yurii Lebid, CEO of Pharmaxi, a Kyiv based full service CRO, Mr. Matsakis met with several major stakeholders in Ukranian clinical research and healthcare. These included Dr. Vasyl Strilka, Deputy Minister of Health for European Integration and his team, Adam Adamanov, Director of the State Expert Centre and his team, Arensia Exploratory Medicine, and Ivan Vyshnyvetskyy, Managing Director at FutureMeds Ukraine and President of the Ukrainian Association for Clinical Research (UACR).
Discussions covered Ukraine’s clinical trial environment, opportunities for closer cooperation with EUCROF, and regulatory alignment with the European Union.
“Coming here in person, sensing the general atmosphere and conditions, simply “living in Kiev for 48 hours”, made it clear to me that Ukraine’s stakeholders continue their activities in routine mode and have fully mitigated the risks. They have great assets to contribute to a stronger Europe and EUCROF will do its part of the job. I have been truly surprised to see the extent to which their regulations have closed almost all gaps with the European regulations. My visit to Arensia top notch facility in Kiev and the discussions with the President of UACR, showed that in Ukraine, probably more than in many other regions, clinical research is a real “care option”, that healthcare professionals are highly skilled, engaged and committed to delivery and quality, and, at last, that clinical research is an essential part of the country’s economy”, said Yoanni Th. Matsakis.
A first outcome of the discussions is the decision to move forward with the establishment of a Ukrainian national CRO association (UACRO). This will take shape in the coming weeks with the intention to apply for EUCROF membership before the end of the year. It is worth reminding that EUCROF’s scope covers the entire geographical Europe (49 countries) and is not limited to the sole political Europe, making Ukraine fully eligible for membership.
Discussions also focused on Ukraine’s ongoing alignment of its clinical trial framework with EU Regulation 536/2014, as well as the country’s clinical research activity and the opportunities created by closer regulatory and professional cooperation with Europe. The area of medical devices and ATMPs, were also identified with the State Expert Center as areas where closer cooperation should be developed.
Further areas identified for collaboration include the potential recognition of the EUCROF GDPR Code of Conduct by Ukraine to support cybersecurity and data protection practices in clinical research, the participation of Ukrainian experts in relevant EUCROF working groups, cooperation on data and digital initiatives, and the organisation of a webinar to present the current clinical research landscape in Ukraine.
EUCROF’s President invited Deputy Minister of Health for European Integration, Dr. Vasyl Strilka, to speak at EUCROF27 in Prague, 14–16 February 2027 and to encourage other Ukrainian stakeholders to attend. The conference is expected to provide an important platform for strengthening connections between the Ukrainian CRO association and the wider European clinical research community.
The initiatives agreed in Kyiv mark the beginning of a more structured cooperation between EUCROF and Ukraine’s clinical research community, supporting closer professional exchange and stronger links with the European clinical research ecosystem.
About EUCROF
The European CRO Federation (EUCROF) represents national associations and organisations involved in clinical research services across Europe. EUCROF facilitates cooperation, exchange of expertise and engagement on regulatory and operational issues affecting clinical research.
