Wilmington-based contract research organization, PPD recently opened a new laboratory in Singapore. Southeast Asia thought of as a high-growth area for clinical research.

“Expanding our global central lab services into Singapore demonstrates our commitment to deliver high quality specimens and laboratory results for our clients in a growing biopharmaceutical market,” said Steve Lobel, vice president, global laboratory operations, PPD in a press release. “We can expedite delivery of lab data through reduced transportation and shipping time at better logistics costs for our clients.”

The company has had an office in Singapore for more than 10 years, where it manages clinical trials, recruits patients, and identifies sites. The new Singapore laboratory’s standards are identical to PPD’s other global labs in Brussels, Belgium, Highland Heights, Kentucky, and Beijing, China. A secure Web site and common database links all of the global labs, which streamlines reporting and enables clients to access test results easily.

PPD employs more than 10,000 people in 38 countries. Their clients are pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, academic and government institutions. PPD has been based in Wilmington since 1985.