A Message from the Associate Dean for Research
Associate Dean for Research
I am pleased to announce that the WMed Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) has been awarded full reaccreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) for an additional five years. AAHRPP promotes high quality research through an accreditation process that helps organizations worldwide strengthen their human research protection program. The program was reaccredited in June 2023, following a two-day virtual site evaluation in February/March 2023. During the site visit, AAHRPP site visitors from accredited, peer institutions reviewed HRPP and IRB records, research policies and conducted interviews with over forty researchers, administrators, and IRB members and staff involved in supporting the WMed HRPP.
AAHRPP uses a voluntary, peer-driven, educational model to ensure that HRPPs meet rigorous standards for quality and protection that go beyond the regulations. To earn accreditation, organizations must demonstrate through policies, procedures, and practices their commitment to ethical research and to continuous quality improvement. AAHRPP-accredited organizations collaborate and share resources, innovative practices, and collect data to help establish benchmarks, improve quality, and increase effectiveness and efficiency.
This important achievement reflects WMed’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of research participants. Becoming accredited is a remarkable achievement and a true testament to what we can accomplish together. It is representative of the different areas that collectively help make our HRPP successful.
The evaluators recognized one of the WMed HRPP areas of strengths was the individuals who make up research operations and their commitment and dedication to educate, engage, and partner with the community regarding human research opportunities. An additional area of strength that was noted was the level of engagement by all interviewed and being well positioned to support our institutions growth.
For questions about the accreditation, contact Maureen Owens, director of the Human Research Protection Program.
Information about AAHRPP
An independent, non-profit accrediting body, AAHRPP uses a voluntary, peer-driven, educational model to ensure that HRPPs meet rigorous standards for quality and protection. To earn accreditation, organizations must provide tangible evidence-through policies, procedures, and practices—of their commitment to scientifically and ethically sound research and to continuous improvement.
As the “gold seal,” AAHRPP accreditation offers assurances—to research participants, researchers, sponsors, government regulators, and the general public—that an HRPP is focused first and foremost on excellence.
AAHRPP was founded in 2001 by the Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of American Universities, Consortium of Social Science Associations, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, National Health Council, and Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research.
The AAHRPP website contains a number of useful documents such as information on AAHRPP’s history and formation, its approach to evaluation, and standards for accrediting human research protection programs.
Who is Part of the WMed HRPP?
All the various areas who participate in the review, approval, conduct, facilitation and quality assurance of human subjects research.
Questions on accreditation?
Contact HRPP Director Maureen Owens at 269.337.4269 or maureen.owens@wmed.edu.