The University of Georgia (UGA) has successfully achieved reaccreditation for its Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). This reaccreditation highlights UGA’s commitment to ensuring the safety and protection of individuals participating in research studies.
UGA first received accreditation from AAHRPP in 2018. The recent reaccreditation is particularly significant as the university has introduced a new School of Medicine and School of Nursing. “This reaccreditation affirms the excellent work our HRPP Office and our Institutional Review Board have done in the face of real challenges that date back to the pandemic,” stated Chris King, interim vice president for research. He expressed his congratulations to the HRPP team and the wider human research community at UGA for achieving this designation.
High Standards and Community Engagement Recognized
In its accreditation report, AAHRPP noted the high level of expertise among the leaders of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This knowledge has been significantly enhanced through the HRPP Office’s initiatives in human research education and training. The report also commended IRB members for their understanding of the diverse communities impacted by UGA’s research efforts.
According to the AAHRPP report, “Three staff members were dedicated to the development and implementation of educational offerings for researchers and research staff, as well as community engagement activities.” These efforts are part of an ongoing strategy to build trust and relationships with the communities that UGA serves.
The reaccreditation follows an AAHRPP site visit in fall 2025, which was supported by the HRPP Office, IRB members, ethics committee members, and other faculty and staff engaged in human research. “We’re very grateful to the faculty and research staff who participated in the virtual interviews along with HRPP staff, IRB members and several key individuals in the Office of Research,” said Kim Fowler, director of the HRPP Office. She emphasized that these interviews were crucial for illustrating UGA’s research enterprise and commitment to quality human research.
Meeting Rigorous Standards for Research
To attain AAHRPP accreditation, institutions must demonstrate that they have established comprehensive safeguards at every level of their research operations, adhering to high research standards. Organizations undergo evaluations for reaccreditation three years after their initial accreditation and every five years thereafter.
For additional details on UGA’s Human Research Protection Program, interested parties can visit the program’s official website. The reaccreditation underscores UGA’s dedication to maintaining ethical research practices while fostering a safe environment for participants.
