AAHRPP Accreditation
As an AAHRPP-accredited organization, the Northwestern University Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) must renew accreditation three years after initial accreditation and every five years thereafter. Northwestern’s HRPP achieved initial AAHRPP accreditation on December 19, 2016, and full AAHRPP reaccreditation on December 15, 2019.
The Northwestern IRB Office is undergoing AAHRPP reaccreditation in 2024. Find information on our 2024 AAHRPP Reaccreditation below.
What is AAHRPP?
The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. is a non-profit accrediting body that uses a voluntary, peer-driven, educational model to ensure that the human research protection program (HRPP) meets rigorous standards for quality and protection. AAHRPP accreditation is the "gold standard” of quality for IRBs in the U.S.
AAHRPP's Mission
AAHRPP accredits high-quality human research protection programs to promote excellent, ethically sound research. Through partnerships with research organizations, researchers, sponsors, and the public, AAHRPP encourages effective, efficient, and innovative systems of protection for human research participants.
Who is accredited?
Research organizations, hospitals, independent ECs/IRBs, research institutes, sponsors, universities and government agencies (e.g., NIH, NCI, VA, State Departments of Health).As of 2024, more than 250 organizations currently have Full Accreditation through AAHRPP, which includes:
- More than 85% of the top U.S. NIH-funded academic medical centers
- 70% of U.S. medical colleges are AAHRPP accredited or have begun the accreditation process.
- All major U.S. independent institutional review boards
- Research entities across the U.S. and in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.
What are the benefits of accreditation?
Why volunteer for an external quality and compliance review of our IRB and HRPP?
- Improved regulatory compliance through an independent review of our strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement
- Results in a more cohesive HRPP with the systems in place to protect research participants and advance research more efficiently and effectively
- Sponsors and other funding agencies recognize accredited organizations have more efficient operations, provide more comprehensive protections, and produce high-quality data
- Enhance standing with U.S. federal agencies
- Uphold high ethical standards and trust by research participants and researchers
- Demonstrates and encourages a culture of continuous quality improvement
For more information, see AAHRPP's Resources:
- Why Accreditation Matters Overview
- Get Accredited Overview
- Applying for Reaccreditation
- For Research Participants - Role of Accreditation
2024 AAHRPP Reaccreditation
The Northwestern University IRB Office is undergoing the reaccreditation of our Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) in 2024.
How does Reaccreditation Work
Candidate organizations secure reaccreditation by performing the same self-assessment and gap analysis required for the initial accreditation application. The IRB Office has been working with AAHRPP for several months on Conducting a Self-Assessment, Building and Submitting an Application, and Reviewing Written Materials.
After completing the Review of Written Materials, AAHRPP requested a final set of written materials before scheduling the 2024 AAHRPP site visit.
Reaccreditation Timeline
See the graphic below for the AAHRPP Reaccreditation timeline, with the actions that AAHRPP takes in purple and the actions that the Northwestern University IRB Office and HRPP take in light grey. See AAHRPP’s Get Accredited Overview for details on each step of the process.
2024 AAHRPP Site Visit
The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Program’s AAHRPP Reaccreditation site visit took place from Thursday, August 22, 2024, through Friday, August 23, 2024.
As part of AAHRPP Reaccreditation, the Site Visit is a mechanism AAHRPP uses to re-evaluate the implementation of our policies and procedures.
AAHRPP site visitors conducted virtual interviews with investigators, research study team members, IRB members, IRB Office staff, key research offices, and institutional and organizational officials regarding the Northwestern Human Research Protection Program.
The research community is welcome to email the IRB Office at IRBCompliance@northwestern.edu with questions about the AAHRPP Reaccreditation process.