American PR firm Chamberlain is to expand into Europe with the opening of new operations in London.

Chamberlain Healthcare Public Relations is part of US marketing group inVentiv Health, which in the UK includes advertising agency GSW Junction 11.

The agencies will work alongside each other at the Farringdon location established by GSW Junction 11.

It is the New York-based agency's first foray outside the US and the operations will be headed up by former Porter Novelli healthcare director Amanda Moulson.

"Chamberlain is quickly becoming an important international contributor in healthcare public relations. I am delighted to have the opportunity to expand the Chamberlain brand throughout Europe whilst being based in London - one of the world's most dynamic healthcare markets," she said.

Moulson has over ten years of experience in healthcare PR, covering areas of expertise such as strategy development, integrating PR with advertising and marketing communications and supporting healthcare brands across the lifecycle.

She has worked in a broad range of therapeutic areas in the UK and international markets, with a focus on women's and sexual health, HIV/AIDS, nutrition and oncology.

Moulson says Chamberlain will work with GSW Junction 11 and inVentiv's California-based interactive media company Ignite to offer a range of integrated medical communications services.

Chamberlain was founded in 1993 as a full-service healthcare public relations agency and now employs more than 55 staff, predominantly at its New York office.

Principal director Richard Chamberlain said: "Despite a challenging environment, our business is growing and the needs of our clients require a co-ordinated strategy on the international level.

"Our aim is to shape campaigns that rely more on science as the backbone of the brand promise and align customer insights with messaging so that the science and the benefit of a brand is not lost on doctors, patients or advocates."

pharmafocus@wiley.co.uk