NEW YORK -- CROs, or Contract Research Organizations, are expanding as rising demand for new medicines spurs pharmaceutical companies to seek more cost-effective research and development. The organizations provide support to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries in the form of research services outsourced on a contract basis. The Nikkei recently spoke with Deborah Keller, CEO of Covance, a leading U.S. CRO, about the industry's growing role and the importance of the Asian market.