Janice Parente BSc, PhD

Dr. Janice completed both her Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Molecular Pharmacology and proceeded to develop her skills at the Director level within global pharma before founding her first contract research organization (CRO) in 1992. During the ensuing 25 years, Janice established her credentials as a successful and respected business leader and entrepreneur. Janice founded the ethical Group of Companies (ethica CRO Inc., Veritas IRB Inc., and Merita CQA Inc.) instilling in her companies her values and commitment to the protection of human research participants. This commitment led to her companies becoming the first Canadian entities and the first CRO in the world to earn full accreditation of its Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) in 2006.

Janice founded HRA Canada in 2017, and founded its sister company, Human Research Standards Organization (HRSO), in 2019. Janice is currently the President & CEO of both organizations. In February 2020, under Janice’s direction, HRSO was accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, giving it the authority to develop national standards for the conduct and oversight of human research. Janice’s leadership and entrepreneurship have been recognized through numerous awards and nominations such as the prestigious Ernst & Young and RBC Women Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and PROFIT Magazine’s PROFIT W100 ranking of Canada’s Top Women Entrepreneurs.