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Advarra
Advarra combines IRB oversight with clinical trial software and AI—formed in 2017 from Schulman IRB and Chesapeake IRB.
Advarra
Advarra was founded in 2017 through the merger of two established institutional review boards (IRBs): Schulman IRB and Chesapeake IRB, both of which had operated independently for over 40 years. The combined entity inherited their regulatory expertise and began expanding through acquisitions, partnerships, and product development. The firm's platform covers the full protocol lifecycle: it offers a CTMS (Clinical Conductor), eRegulatory and eSource tools for sites, and study-design, site-ID, startup, and enrollment software for sponsors and CROs. A separate data-and-AI arm named Braid provides operational intelligence derived from Advarra's IRB and trial datasets. The IRB function remains firewalled from commercial operations to maintain independence. Advarra serves a client base that includes AstraZeneca, Fortrea, Alcanza, UCSF, and University of Rochester, among other research institutions and biopharma firms. Advarra employs teams across offices in Columbia, Maryland (headquarters); Wellesley, Massachusetts; Aurora, Ontario; Bangalore, India; and Limerick, Ireland. It operates several community and thought-leadership initiatives: the Innovation Summits, the Site-Sponsor Consortium, the Council for Responsible Use of AI in Clinical Research, and the Oncology Research Pulse. No AUM, deployment figures, or team headcount are disclosed; the firm's business model is service-and-licensing based rather than asset management. The firm's structural differentiator is its hybrid model: it pairs a regulated, independent IRB with a commercial technology stack and an AI/analytics layer, all under one entity. This architecture creates a self-reinforcing dataset—operational data from the IRB and trial systems feeds Braid's intelligence, which in turn improves study design and workflows across the same installed base—without merging the ethical oversight function into commercial incentives.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2017
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Columbia
Corporate office
6100 Merriweather Drive, Suite 600, Columbia, MD 21044, United States
Additional offices
100 Worcester St, Suite 203, Wellesley, MA 02481, United States · 125 Don Hillock Drive, Unit 18, Aurora, Ontario L4G 0H8, Canada · No. 2 (Old No. 4), Prestige Emerald, 6th Floor, Madras Bank Road, Lavelle Road, Bangalore-560001, India · Unit 3, Castletroy Business Park, Castletroy, Limerick V94 AE77, Ireland
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Advarra?
Advarra is not an investment firm; it is a clinical trial technology and services provider. Leadership appears to be a management team reporting to its board, and no single named principal is publicly identified as overseeing investment allocation. The firm's strategic direction is set by executive management (per the firm's website, 2025).
How does Advarra source proprietary deal flow?
Advarra does not make investments or source deal flow. Its business is providing IRB oversight, clinical trial management software (CTMS), eRegulatory, eSource, and AI/data services (Braid) to sponsors, CROs, and research sites. Commercial relationships arise from direct sales, partnerships, and the installed base of its IRB customers (per the firm's website, 2025).
Is Advarra structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Neither. Advarra is a privately held company operating as a clinical research technology and services organization. It is not a family office, asset manager, or venture capital firm. It has no disclosed AUM or investment portfolio (per the firm's website, 2025).
Does Advarra participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Advarra does not participate in fund commitments or direct investment deals. It is an operating company that generates revenue through subscription licenses, consulting, and IRB review fees (per the firm's website, 2025).
What investment stages does Advarra typically target?
Advarra does not target investment stages; it provides services and technology that support clinical trials across all phases—from early-phase feasibility and study startup through enrollment, monitoring, and data collection (per the firm's website, 2025).
Which sectors does Advarra explicitly avoid?
Advarra does not publicly disclose any sectors it avoids. Its IRB and technology services are designed for clinical research across therapeutic areas, with notable mentions of oncology (Oncology Research Pulse initiative). No explicit negative restrictions are stated (per the firm's website, 2025).
How is Advarra related to its parent or related vehicles?
Advarra was formed in 2017 from the merger of Schulman IRB and Chesapeake IRB. It owns or operates the brands Clinical Conductor (CTMS), Braid (data/AI platform), and several community initiatives. No publicly identified parent company or holding structure is disclosed beyond the firm itself (per the firm's website, 2025).
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