The following article comes from Rho’s CEO Russ Helms who would like to share some thoughts on topics that he sees as important to Rho and our business.

The clinical research business is a crowded space.  There are hundreds of contract research organizations (CROs) competing to differentiate themselves.  So, what makes us different?  What makes Rho, Rho?  I could talk about the depth of our experience, our expertise in various therapeutic areas, or the outstanding customer experience we consistently deliver.  All of these things are important.  That said, I believe it is our core ideology—our core purpose and core values—that truly make us who we are.

Rho’s Core Purpose

To improve health, extend life, and enhance quality of life through corporate and research excellence.

Rho’s Core Values

Integrity

Strict adherence to a very high moral and ethical code is the keystone in Rho’s strong arch of core values. We demonstrate our integrity in relationships within Rho, beyond Rho, and in the manner in which we conduct scientific research and business. We behave honorably and honestly, take responsibility for our actions, forgive the honest mistakes of others, and treat others as we wish to be treated.

Agility and Adaptability

Rho values the ability to change quickly. We eagerly anticipate, respond to, and take advantage of changes in our environment. Change is not without risk. We embrace risk, but manage it with planning, accepting and learning from both failures and successes. The opportunity to adapt and evolve energizes us.

Profitability

Rho pursues profit because profitability enables us to achieve our other aims.

Quality

A high quality customer experience matched with high quality science has always been Rho’s passion. We satisfy internal and external customers time and again by listening carefully, thoroughly understanding, and then tailoring a solution to meet their needs. By caring, we create quality.

Innovation

Innovation is creativity in action, the integration of thinking and doing. We are committed to relentlessly improving our processes and products to increase quality and productivity and to decrease costs. Innovation brings valuable new products and services to our customers.

Stability

Stability-financial, workforce, and corporate-is the foundation of our quality customer experience and our quality culture. Maintaining stability requires rejection of individuals who consistently clash with our core ideology or who lack competence. Most importantly, stability creates a safe environment for Rho employees to take risks, innovate, learn, and develop over a long and rewarding career.

To Think Critically and Creatively

Rho values thinking. We think both critically and creatively, drawing on our native ingenuity, sharpened and enhanced by our intellect, training, and experience. We evaluate situations and opportunities objectively and incisively; we then craft novel, practical solutions.

Great People

Rho employs smart, talented, positive people with sound judgment, a can-do attitude, and a zeal for teamwork.

A Team Culture

Rho values a strong team spirit highlighted by loyalty, accountability, and mutual trust and respect across the entire organization. We work smart together, we work hard together, and we laugh together.

Our principles have helped us make the best decisions, not just the easy ones. Whenever we make decisions at any level, we use this core ideology to guide us.  Our purpose motivates us and guides us, supporting us through the harder days and decisions, reminding us why we’re here, and providing clarity as we set the long run corporate vision and direction.  Our values guide our daily decisions, large and small.  From the smallest behavior to the giant strategic decisions, we refer to these values explicitly and frequently. Importantly, we hire based on these values.  We set expectations of each other based on these values.  And we succeed, as a company and as individuals, because of these values.