Certek Acquires JSS Medical Research

We’re delighted to announce the acquisition of JSS Medical Research, a Canadian-headquartered, full-service Contract Research Organisation (CRO) with global reach across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

JSS Medical Research, founded in 1985 by Dr. John S. Sampalis and headquartered in Laval, Quebec, has established itself as one of the largest Canadian-owned CROs, with a reputation built on scientific rigour, methodological expertise and a deep network of academic affiliations. From its corporate head office in Canada and regional offices in Bogotá (Colombia) and Faridabad (India), JSS supports global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and nutraceutical clients across the full product lifecycle, from Phase I through to Phase IV and post-approval studies. Over the past decade alone, the business has delivered studies involving more than 500,000 patients across 8,500 sites in over 21 countries and today employs approximately 300 full-time professionals worldwide.

David Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of Certek, said:

“We are delighted to partner with JSS Medical Research and welcome them to Certek. Over nearly four decades, John, Emmanouil, and the JSS team have built a truly differentiated CRO, combining scientific excellence with the agility and customer-centricity that mid-tier sponsors and biotechs increasingly demand. The business is a strong strategic fit for our Life & Materials Sciences Division and significantly extends our international footprint into Canada, Latin America and Asia.

Management recognised the strategic benefits in partnering with a larger group in order to facilitate succession planning and provide increased investment following significant growth and demand for services over the past 12 months. We will support the team to continue investment into people and technologies to meet this demand, whilst preserving the scientific culture, academic affiliations and entrepreneurial drive that have served the company well.”

Dr. Emmanouil Rampakakis, Chief Executive and Scientific Officer of JSS Medical Research, added:

“Joining Certek marks an exciting new chapter for JSS and for our clients. Over nearly four decades, we have built our reputation on scientific rigour, methodological depth and the kind of personal, relationship-driven service that only a focused team can provide, and that will not change. What changes is our capacity; with Certek’s support, we can accelerate investment in the people, technologies and geographic presence needed to serve a market that is growing faster than ever. The momentum in biotech funding is translating directly into a demand for high-quality, agile clinical research partners, and JSS Medical Research is exceptionally well positioned to meet that demand across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. I look forward to continuing to deliver on our mission: health research recognised as the standard of excellence, now with the resources to do so at greater scale.”

“Certek’s sophistication and passion for helping its group companies realise their full potential was the single most important factor in our decision to pursue this partnership. In the ever-changing environment of health research, and the contract research industry in particular, partnering with an organisation that is forward-looking, embraces innovation, and provides the means for growth will ensure a healthy and positive trajectory into the coming decades. I am thrilled and honoured that Certek recognised the potential within JSS Medical Research and will join us on what promises to be a remarkable and successful journey. I am also hopeful that adding JSS Medical Research to the Certek Group will be the seed for the group’s growth in the health research sector,” stated Dr. John S. Sampalis, Founder of JSS Medical Research and Professor of Medicine at McGill University and Université de Montréal.

JSS Medical Research will continue to operate under its established brand and from its Laval, Quebec headquarters, with no changes to services or client relationships.

About JSS Medical Research

JSS Medical Research is a full-service Contract Research Organisation (CRO) built on a foundation of epidemiological and scientific expertise, with a strong network of academic affiliations and over 30 years of experience across multiple therapeutic areas, from Oncology and Immunology to Infectious Diseases and Rare Diseases.

Through its head office in Laval, Quebec and regional offices in Bogotá, Faridabad and Warsaw, JSS provides comprehensive clinical trial management services to global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and nutraceutical clients, covering all phases of clinical development from phase I to post-approval real-world evidence, and end-to-end services.

JSS’s experienced team of project and data managers, epidemiologists, physicians, biostatisticians, medical writers, and monitors combines deep methodological expertise and operational agility with global reach, delivering personalised support that larger organisations often cannot provide. Ongoing investment in people and technology ensures the company consistently meets the highest standards of scientific rigour and regulatory compliance.

Its mission is simple: to conduct health research recognised as the standard of excellence, and to give clients the confidence required to achieve their development, regulatory and reimbursement objectives.

About Certek

Headquartered in London, UK, Certek is an independent specialist testing, inspection, certification and compliance (TICC) services company that delivers a range of mission critical compliance services to an international client base. Certek acquires and partners with best-in-class companies in the sector and deploys a low-interruption, technology-led approach to integration and operations. Certek is passionate about growth and realising potential, and group companies are supported according to their specific opportunity set and requirements post joining Certek, with the approach being tailored to the situation at hand.

Founded in 2024, Certek comprises over 1,000 people who have technical expertise across health and materials sciences, built environment, asset integrity and inspection and governance, risk and compliance. Certek offers the combined experience and international reach of a large services company, combined with the structural agility, entrepreneurial drive and creativity you would expect from employee-owned business.