ANN ARBOR— The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs has granted full accreditation to the University of Michigan, one of 15 institutions to receive the group’s endorsement this year.

The AAHRPP in a non-profit organization that works with universities, hospitals and other institutions that conduct biomedical, behavioral and social sciences research involving human participants. The group accredits institutions that demonstrate they provide participant safeguards beyond the threshold of state and federal requirements.

To date, 107 institutions have earned AAHRPP accreditation. The latest endorsements were announced March 20 in Washington, D.C.

“The University research community worked hard for this, taking on the challenges of a rigorous self-assessment process in order to achieve accreditation,” said Judy Nowack, associate vice president for research and director of the U-M Human Research Protection Program.

“We are committed to striving for the highest standards of ethical and regulatory compliance while supporting creative and scientifically sound research,” she said.

The U-M has more than 5,000 active research projects involving human participants. The areas of study involve medical and health research, as well as social and behavioral sciences topics. Every project is reviewed and monitored by one of nine boards ? seven on the Ann Arbor campus and one each on the Dearborn and Flint campuses.

“We view accreditation as the culmination of a whole array of efforts we have put in place over several years, aimed at enhancing our human research program,” said U-M Vice President for Research Stephen Forrest, the university’s Institutional Official for human research.

AAHRPP accreditation is valid for three years, and accredited organizations submit annual reports on the status of their human research programs.

U-M’s Human Research Protection Program