UC's Human Research Program Receives Three-Year Accreditation

CINCINNATI—The University of Cincinnati (UC) has received full accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP).

The accreditation follows a rigorous three-year process and ensures protections are built into every step of research—from study design and selection of research sites and investigators, to the actual conduct of research and collection and interpretation of data.

In addition, it signifies that systems are in place to verify that these protections are genuine and that they are backed by policies, procedures and practices that guarantee the highest standards.

“Clinical research is vital to the health of the community,” says Jane Henney, MD, senior vice president and provost for health affairs at UC’s Academic Health Center. “Conducting this type of research in the safest and most responsible manner for our patients is our goal. Achieving accreditation by AAHRPP is validation that we are holding ourselves to the highest standards.”

In the July 2006 issue of Regulatory Affairs Focus Magazine, AAHRPP executive director Marjorie Speers, PhD, said the accreditation process is “extremely detailed and rigorous—and that is precisely what makes it valuable.”

The accreditation process often results in system-wide improvements that provide greater protection for research participants, ensuring the integrity of their research. But beyond that, AAHRPP accreditation offers additional assurance to study sponsors and participants that the university continues to observe the highest standards in human subject protection.

UC is among 16 organizations to achieve full AAHRPP accreditation this round. Research institutions already accredited by AAHRPP now include 68organizations with 261 entities. AAHRPP is currently working with nearly 400 other institutions in the accreditation process.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center—two of the university’s affiliates and partners in clinical and translational research—also received full AAHRPP accreditation this round.

“Collaboration is key to successful research programs,” says Sandra Degen, PhD, UC's vice president for research. “We’re thrilled to know that the university and two of its affiliate institutions are viewed so highly for research integrity.”

For more information, contact Dawn O’Neill, interim executive director of UC’s Human Research Protection Program, at (513) 558-6565 or dawn.oneill@uc.edu.

AAHRPP is a nonprofit 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 state and federal requirements. The accreditation program utilizes a voluntary, peer-driven educational model. Learn more at www.aahrpp.org.