NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Medidata Solutions (NASDAQ: MDSO), a leading global provider of SaaS-based clinical technology solutions, today announced that the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd (LICR) has chosen Medidata Rave^® as its electronic data capture (EDC) and clinical data management (CDM) solution. LICR is the largest international non-profit institute dedicated to understanding and controlling cancer. The Institute’s clinical trials integrate laboratory and clinical research and support the development of promising technologies.

In the EDC selection process, LICR searched for a system that could meet the needs of complex oncology studies while linking its international research sites. The Institute required a system that was intuitive and configurable, and thereby allows its staff to build and manage their own studies. They also focused on the ability to conduct frequent mid-study changes without taking the system off-line or disrupting site data input availability in any way.

“After evaluating numerous EDC systems for their rigor as well as usability and accessibility, it became clear that Medidata offered the technology and support that would enable us to drive our global reach and organizational growth,” said Ralph R. Venhaus, M.D., head of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs at Ludwig. “Like many organizations, cost was a critical factor in our selection, but with Medidata’s business model, we found that we didn’t have to settle on a ‘good enough’ solution, but could in fact afford the best.”

With approximately 800 scientific, clinical and support staff across 10 research branches located in Australia, Brazil, Europe and the U.S., LICR conducts clinical research to translate LICR’s discoveries into applications for human benefits. The LICR and Cancer Research Institute have partnered to establish the Cancer Vaccine Collaborative, a coordinated global network of laboratory and clinical sites with expertise in immunology, to develop therapeutic cancer vaccines.

According to the Institute, Medidata Rave was also selected for its strong presence and growing familiarity throughout the government, non-profit and academic research communities, as well as its adoption by many of the world’s largest commercial drug development organizations. “LICR also collaborates with commercial pharmaceutical partners. With Medidata’s broad usage in the commercial world, we believe this commonality of platform and underlying data standards will benefit researchers as well as patients and help to move the frontiers of cancer research ahead more efficiently,” said Venhaus.

“As a global research center working to translate its laboratory advances into human treatments in world-class research settings, the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research is taking on an enormous effort in an already complex therapeutic area,” said Tarek Sherif, Chairman and CEO, Medidata Solutions. “Our in-depth experience in development of oncology treatments in both non-profit and commercial settings makes us a natural partner to support Ludwig’s clinical goals, and we look forward to helping drive their important research initiatives forward.”

About Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd (www.licr.org) is a non-profit global organization committed to improving the understanding and control of cancer through integrated laboratory and clinical discovery employing more than 800 scientists in branches throughout North and South America, Europe and Australia. Leveraging its worldwide network of investigators and the ability to sponsor and conduct its own clinical trials, LICR is actively engaged in translating its discoveries into applications for human benefit.

About Medidata Solutions Worldwide

Medidata Solutions (www.mdsol.com) is a leading global provider of SaaS-based clinical technology solutions that enhance the efficiency of customers’ clinical development processes and optimize their research and development investments. Medidata products and services allow customers to achieve clinical results more efficiently and effectively by streamlining the design, planning and management of key aspects of the clinical development process, including protocol development (Medidata Designer^®), investigator benchmarking and budgeting (Medidata Grants Manager™), contract research organization (CRO) benchmarking and budgeting (Medidata CRO Contractor™), and the capture, management, analysis and reporting of clinical trial data (Medidata Rave^®). Medidata’s diverse customer base spans pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, academic institutions, CROs and other research organizations, and includes more than 20 of the top 25 global pharmaceutical companies.