Contract Research Organization Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a contract research organization business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for contract research organizations, Phase 1 units, and specialty research services. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services and contracts.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability / E&O | Covers sponsor claims for errors, data problems, and the cost of repeating studies. | Core | |
| Cyber / Privacy Liability | Covers participant health data and study systems. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers offices, sites, and visitors. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers staff, including clinical and lab workers. | Core | |
| Medical Professional Liability | Needed if your staff dose, examine, or treat participants. | Prevalent | |
| Clinical Trials / Products Liability | Backs up sponsor coverage for injuries in studies you run. | Prevalent | |
| Directors & Officers Liability | Covers leadership against investor and regulatory claims. | Prevalent | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers claims from a large professional workforce. | Prevalent | |
| Foreign / Multinational Coverage | Covers studies and staff outside the U.S. | Situational | |
| Crime / Fidelity | Covers theft of sponsor funds and site payments. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by CROs is the space between the contract and the policy. Sponsor contracts may cap your liability, but uncapped indemnities and underinsured sponsors can leave you paying more than your share when participants sue, and an E&O policy may exclude bodily injury. Confirm E&O covers the cost of repeated studies, carry medical professional liability if you dose participants, and check every sponsor's trial insurance before the study starts.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your contract research organization coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Contract Research Organization (CRO) Insurance · Contract Research Organization Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a contract research organization business need?
The core coverages for a contract research organization business are Professional Liability / E&O, Cyber / Privacy Liability, General Liability, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my contract research organization coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.