Vanderbilt’s Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) earned reaccreditation by the Association for the Accreditation for Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP).
The HRPP oversees the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and provides oversight for all university-wide research in humans. There are currently more than 3,800 active research studies institution wide.
“This reaccreditation is a testament to the work of the HRPP staff and the commitment of the entire university’s research enterprise to safeguard those individuals who agree to participate in human subject research,” said Gene Gallagher, director of the HRPP.
The AAHRPP offers accreditation to approximately 200 research organizations nationwide that provide comprehensive protections to research participants. Organizations that attain accreditation do so voluntarily and agree to adhere to research standards that are in many cases stricter than those set by the federal government.
“Receiving accreditation from AAHRPP reflects the success of the HRPP program but is not just recognition of this office,” said Julie Ozier, associate director of the HRPP. “This belongs to Vanderbilt and is a testament to how we handle research and human subjects as an institution.”
During the accreditation site visit, numerous individuals across the institution were interviewed including researchers and their staff, senior leadership, and representatives from legal counsel, technology transfer and grants and contracts management.
“We are so appreciative to those persons who helped us during this process and made themselves available for the accrediting body’s site visit,” said Barbara Gibson, associate director of compliance for the HRPP.
Vanderbilt first received AAHRPP accreditation in 2004 and was reaccredited in 2007. This current reaccreditation is good for five years.