AAHRPP Publishes Metrics on Performance of Human Research Protection Programs

The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. announced the publication of a performance study on human research protection programs (HRPPs). The study is available in AAHRPP Advance and on the organization's Web site.

From data supplied by client organizations in 2009, AAHRPP has compiled an information database to help research organizations, researchers, sponsors, and government agencies identify and support high performance in HRPPs. One hundred ninety-six organizations, of which 8.7 percent were independent IRBs, 17.9 percent were hospitals, 27 percent were universities, 41.8 percent were VA medical centers, and 4.6 percent were other research organizations, submitted data. Following the demand for evidence-based practice in other areas, AAHRPP is leading an initiative to describe the current practices for human research protection for the research enterprise. The ultimate goal is to define and measure quality-in terms of both efficiency and the protections that organizations, IRBs, and researchers provide to research participants.