Belgrade, Serbia and Princeton, NJ, United States, October 20, 2026 — Global Clinical Trials (GCT), a leading full-service contract research organization (CRO), is proud to announce its expansion into Serbia—further strengthening its presence in Balkan. This strategic move enhances GCT’s ability to deliver high-quality clinical trial services across the Balkan region and supports its ongoing commitment to operational excellence throughout Europe.

As part of this expansion, GCT is pleased to welcome Dr. Vladimir Nikolic as Country Head, Serbia.

With over 20 years of experience in clinical research and pharmaceutical services, Vladimir brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the role. His career features project and programme management roles including Project Director of a big CRO as well as Project Manager roles at different companies.

“Vladimir’s strategic thinking, expertise and leadership in clinical research are a perfect fit for our expansion in Serbia” – said Dr. Eugene Selivra, GCT’s Chief Executive Officer – “His experience, management skills and dedication to quality make him a great addition to our team.”

As Country Head, Dr. Nikolic will oversee all Serbian operations, including legal compliance, client relations, human resources, financial management, and continuous quality improvement.

Why Serbia?

“Serbia is a good location for clinical research” – said Dr. Selivra – “Serbia’s main selling point is the combination of potentially competitive costs, access to patients, experienced medical investigators, and a regional clinical research infrastructure. It can be a valuable country to include in a European clinical development strategy, particularly when the selected sites demonstrate strong recruitment feasibility and reliable study delivery.”

Serbia’s recent regulatory changes are relevant to CRO business development. The 2026 Serbia life sciences guide reports that:

  • Both public and private healthcare institutions can conduct Phase I–III trials if they meet applicable requirements.
  • Import authorization for investigational medicinal products is granted alongside trial approval.
  • Regulatory Agency (ALIMS) takes relevant EMA and ICH guidance into consideration when assessing applications.
  • Submission in parallel to Centralized Ethics Committee and the RA results in competitive approval timeline.
  • Statistics state there were over 2000 clinical trials done to date. Serbia has a clinical trial history lasting over 20 years, and more than 35000 patients have participated in clinical trials in various therapeutic areas.

GCT’s local team in Serbia is fully operational and ready to provide sponsors with reliable, high-quality support rooted in global standards and local expertise.

About GCT
Global Clinical Trials (GCT) is a full-service CRO providing comprehensive clinical trial management across North America, Europe, and Asia. With a strong focus on quality, flexibility, and customer service, GCT supports pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies in delivering successful clinical trials from start to finish.