The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) recently announced full accreditation for MUSC and the affiliated Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). AAHRPP accreditation is a rigorous procedure that is available to organizations worldwide that conduct biomedical, behavioral or social sciences research involving humans. While accreditation is not mandatory, MUSC and VA research administrators and faculty have always pursued extra steps to ensure patient safety throughout research studies.

AAHRPP accreditation is widely viewed as “the gold standard seal of approval” for organizations involved in clinical trials and human research. It ensures that the highest standards and protections extend to participants in all research studies at MUSC and the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC. To achieve AAHRPP accreditation, a diverse group of individuals from across MUSC and the VA came together to conduct a detailed review and enhance various components of the clinical and translational research programs.

MUSC and the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC join a select group of 194 institutions nationwide. AAHRPP’s latest accreditation announcement in September 2009 included only six organizations. AAHRPP is a non-profit organization that accredits organizations that can demonstrate that they provide participant safeguards that surpass the threshold of state and federal requirements.

Source: MUSC, 792-7669