Dr. Gemma Estrada, MSc, PhD, is Managing Director at Barcelona Clinical Trials Platform (BCTP), a strategic instrument of the Health Department of the Catalan Government that promotes clinical research and enhances its value in the region. She qualified in Cell and Molecular Biology and was further a research fellow at the Universitat de Barcelona (1989-1991) and at the New England Medical Center -Tufts university, Boston, MA, (1992-1994). She was also an invited researcher at the Academish Medish Centrum - Universitat van Amsterdam (1993) as well as a laboratory instructor and lecturer at the Universitat de Barcelona (1995). She also holds an Executive Management Diploma by ESADE business school, Madrid (2014). Her professional experience in Clinical Research begun at the Parmaceutical Industry - J. Uriach & Cía (1995-1997), Sanofi (1997-2000)- and continued in CROs. She started the Harrison Clinical Research operation (HCR) in Spain in 2000 and was Managing Director at HCR-Ibérica during 12 years. Following the merger of HCR with Synteract, Inc, she developed into the position of Regional Director of South Europe, Israel and Latin America (2013-2014). With regards to publications she has contributed 9 articles in peer review journals on basic science and, 8 articles in the Clinical Research field.