MINNEAPOLIS, May 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita Clinical Research (DCR), a specialty contract research organization with services spanning a broad spectrum of drug and device development, today announced an expansion of its clinical trials capabilities in Europe. 

Through expansion in Europe, DCR will be able to facilitate the conduct of late phase clinical trials in several medical centers outside of the U.S. for the first time. Physician leaders from Germany, Poland and Portugal with a combined 20 years of research experience will collaborate with DCR to provide data and knowledge-based insights to its clients.

"Together our American and European teams provide unique expertise in clinical research," said Amy Young, vice president and general manager of DCR. "Combining extensive nephrology and clinical trial experience with knowledge of local differences in the practice of nephrology positions us as a valuable resource in drug development for chronic kidney disease management."

DCR has been involved in developing every end stage renal disease drug approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration in the last 15 years. Individuals with advanced kidney disease typically have comorbidities, which may cause health complications. Clinical research is a necessary step in providing high quality care to patients with impaired kidney function.

"We have an experienced group of research physicians in our organization," said Bjorn Englund, DaVita HealthCare Partners president for Europe and the Middle East. "It's important that we apply their expertise as a resource to advance care for our patients."

DCR has conducted Phase I clinical trials in the U.S. since 1985, expanding its capabilities to include late phase clinical research, real-world health care data, health economics and outcomes research and medical communications over the past 30 years.  

DaVita Clinical Research and DCR are registered trademarks of DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc.

About DaVita HealthCare Partners
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a Fortune 500® company, is the parent company of DaVita Kidney Care and HealthCare Partners. DaVita Kidney Care is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. As of March 31, 2015, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,197 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 174,000 patients. The company also operated 93 outpatient dialysis centers located in 10 countries outside the United States. HealthCare Partners manages and operates medical groups and affiliated physician networks in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida and Colorado in its pursuit to deliver excellent-quality health care in a dignified and compassionate manner. As of March 31, 2015 HealthCare Partners provided integrated care management for approximately 830,000 patients. For more information, please visit DaVitaHealthCarePartners.com.

About DaVita Clinical Research (DCR) 
DaVita Clinical Research (DCR), a wholly owned subsidiary of DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc.,uses its extensive, applied database and real-world health care experience to assist pharmaceutical and medical device companies in the design, recruitment and completion of retrospective, prospective and pragmatic clinical trials. DCR's scientific and clinical expertise spans the lifecycle of product development with more than 175 client companies. DCR's early clinical research unit (Phase I-IIa) and late phase clinical research (Phase IIb through post-marketing) network of physicians and investigative sites, real-world health care data, health economics and outcomes research, and medical communications are focused on providing world-class research in both complex/specialty populations and therapeutic areas, and especially in CKD and ESRD populations. To learn more about DCR, visit www.davitaclinicalresearch.com.

Media Contact:
Bianca Violante
Office: (303) 876-6614
Mobile: (443) 417-6044
Bianca.Violante@DaVita.com

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SOURCE DaVita Clinical Research