The Brief
A 10-person CRO headquartered in the United Kingdom was invited to bid for a Phase II vaccines study to be conducted in West Africa. While scientifically capable and highly regarded for its hands-on project management approach, the CRO had never operated in sub-Saharan Africa and lacked local infrastructure, regulatory experience, and site networks in the region.
The sponsor, a European biotech, required rapid start-up, strong community engagement, and confidence in navigating local ethics committees and health authority processes. The competition included larger global CROs with established African subsidiaries and prior vaccines experience in the region. For a 10-person organisation, the opportunity was transformative — but also high risk without the right local partnerships and operational framework.
They engaged Upsilon Global to help create a credible, compliant, and competitive delivery model.
The Solution
Upsilon Global supported the CRO in building an operational bridge into Ghana and Senegal, the two proposed study countries.
First, Upsilon identified and contracted experienced local clinical operations specialists and regulatory consultants with prior vaccines and infectious disease trial experience. These individuals were integrated into the bid as named team members, immediately strengthening regional credibility.
Second, Upsilon facilitated introductions to high-performing investigator sites with proven cold-chain capabilities and community outreach programmes — critical for vaccines studies. Early engagement allowed the CRO to present realistic recruitment projections and culturally appropriate patient engagement strategies.
Finally, Upsilon worked with the CRO to design a hybrid oversight structure: UK-based strategic leadership combined with empowered local operational management. Detailed regulatory timelines, importation planning, and risk mitigation strategies were clearly articulated in the proposal.
The Outcome
The sponsor awarded the study to the UK CRO, citing the strength of the local partnerships, clarity of regulatory planning, and agility of the proposed team structure.
With Upsilon Global’s support, the CRO successfully launched in West Africa, delivered enrolment in line with projections, and established an international footprint far beyond what its size would typically allow — transforming it from a domestic boutique provider into a credible emerging-market clinical partner.
