AAHRPP Achieves a New Milestone

International expansion and diverse organizations setting the example

Washington, D.C., June 16, 2011 – The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) announced today that it has awarded five organizations with Full Accreditation. Setting new milestones, in its tenth year, AAHRPP has accredited its first organization in China, first psychiatric hospital, and first federal central IRB. The list also includes two top medical colleges and teaching hospital.

 Specifically, the following were accredited:

• Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
• McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
• Mount Sinai School of Medicine and The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
• The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. and Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Inc., Milwaukee, WI
• Veterans Health Administration Central Office Human Research Protections Program, Washington, DC

“We are pleased to accredit our first human research protection program at the Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University. With China’s rapid expansion into clinical trial research we are confident that Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University will lead the way for other Chinese institutions to put human safety and wellbeing first by becoming accredited.” said Marjorie A. Speers, Ph.D., President and CEO, AAHRPP.

Also among first are McLean Hospital and the Veterans Health Administration Central Office Human Research Protections Program, a federal central IRB that reviews multisite studies funded by VA and conducted at local VA facilities.

Through the rigorous accreditation process, organizations must demonstrate that they have built extensive safeguards into every level of their research operation and that they adhere to the highest standards for research. The accreditation process typically results in system-wide improvements that enhance protections for research participants and promote high-quality research.

Accreditation is available to organizations world-wide that conduct biomedical, behavioral or social sciences research involving human participants. Decisions on accreditation are announced quarterly, and accreditation is valid for three years.

About the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc.

AAHRPP is a non-profit organization that works with organizations that conduct human research to raise the level of protection for research participants. AAHRPP accredits organizations that can demonstrate they provide participant safeguards that surpass the threshold of U.S. federal requirements. The accreditation program uses a voluntary, peer-driven, educational model. For organizations interested in learning more about accreditation, visit www.aahrpp.org.

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