Asia pharma group looks to ProtoSphere for virtual training

Press release: Asia Training Consortium Launches Collaborative Cloud Solution

Microsoft and ProtonMedia to Help Speed Industry Drug Development and Time to Market

LANSDALE, PA. – The Asia Training Consortium (ATC), a Merck-sponsored group of pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations that was formed in Shanghai in 2011, has added ProtonMedia and Microsoft Corporation to ATC to offer best-in-class collaborative cloud solutions to the group, as it seeks to pool resources to train clinical research professionals in the Asia Pac region. Member companies currently include Merck & Co. (MSD), Orchestrall Inc., RPS, PACRA, Covance, Bayer Healthcare, Pfizer, ClinTec International, Edinburgh Napier University, Novartis China, and UL Eduneering. ProtonMedia and Microsoft have now joined as member companies.

“Merck believes the entire life sciences industry will need to move towards these kinds of collaborative hubs to reduce the cost of drug development and speed the time to market for new medicines,” says John Constantine, Executive Director & Dean, of the Merck Polytechnic Institute. Merck & Co. is a founding member of ATC and has been a leader in the training area.

ProtoSphere is a popular platform with life sciences companies. (Image courtesy ProtonMedia.)

Andrea McGonigle, the Managing Director for Microsoft Life Sciences added “Microsoft Life Sciences is excited to be joining the ATC at such an important time when we can bring our cloud-based collaboration solutions into partnership with ProtonMedia’s training expertise to skillfully support a host of new research talent both in the Asia region and the entire industry.”

ProtonMedia will provide ProtoSphere, its innovative training and collaboration solution to ATC members. Operating on Microsoft’s secure cloud, ProtoSphere will allow ATC companies to connect and collaborate on a variety of global training initiatives. This advanced 3D immersive environment will be the first of its kind deployed cooperatively for the Life Sciences industry.

“We are honored to be participating in this very forward looking program and believe collaborative cloud based hubs will be instrumental in transforming the entire life sciences industry in the years ahead” says Ron Burns, CEO of ProtonMedia.

ABOUT ATC
ATC was initiated in October 2011 in Shanghai when multiple pharmaceutical companies and CROs convened to address the common issues of training in the Asia Pacific region. For more information visit: www.trainingconsortium.asia.

ABOUT PROTONMEDIA
ProtonMedia is the developer of ProtoSphere, the #1 Virtual Collaboration Environment for Life Sciences and winner of two consecutive Microsoft Life Sciences Innovation Awards (with Merck in 2010 for ProtoSphere’s use in R&D collaboration and again in 2011 with PPD for ProtoSphere’s use in the clinical space). Featuring seamless integration with Microsoft Lync, SharePoint, Outlook, and Office 365, ProtoSphere maximizes engagement for distance learning and remote workforce collaboration. For more information, visit: www.protonmedia.com.