DETROIT—Following a rigorous, two and a half years evaluation process, Wayne State University’s research program involving human participants has received full accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs Inc. (AAHRPP). In addition, the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center located on the medical campus of WSU has also received full accreditation.

AAHRPP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of the rights and welfare of research participants and the promotion of scientifically meritorious and ethically sound research. AAHRPP accreditation is the “gold standard” for human participant research requiring that its member institutions reach performance standards that surpass the threshold of state and federal requirements.

Currently, seeking accreditation by AAHRPP is voluntary. “By achieving full accreditation, the university has demonstrated the highest ethical standards in protecting human research participants,” said Dr. Hilary Ratner, WSU’s vice president for Research. “This accreditation indicates Wayne’s commitment to the most comprehensive protections for human research participants and to the highest quality research. This is a great achievement for Wayne State University.”

WSU has approximately 2,500 active research studies involving thousands of human research participants. Research volunteers participate in studies in a myriad of areas, including diagnostic, social and therapeutic programs.

“There are nearly 100 faculty, staff and community members who invest considerable time every month to ensure the well-being of research participants by serving on our Institutional Review Boards and Safety Committees for both Wayne State University and the John Dingell VA Medical Center,” said Dr. Dorothy Nelson, assistant vice president for Research Compliance. “Their dedication to protecting the rights and welfare of research participants in high quality research studies demonstrates WSU’s high ethical standards in research.”

“This accreditation confirms that we are committed to safe and appropriate conduct in all aspects of our research enterprise,” said WSU President Irvin D. Reid. “It sends a clear signal to investigators, funding agencies, regulatory bodies and the community at large that Wayne State is serious about maintaining standards for human participant research that are above and beyond regulatory requirements. This particular accomplishment gives a clear signal to our investigators, funding agencies, regulatory bodies and the community that WSU is serious about meeting standards for human participant research that are above and beyond regulatory requirements.”

“Each year, the number of institutions applying for accreditation continues to grow,” said Marjorie A. Speers, Ph.D., executive director, AAHRPP. “Clearly organizations are committed to providing the highest level of safety for its research participants and we know this trend will continue.”

AAHRPP is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. that works with organizations that conduct human research to raise the level of protection for research participants. Since AAHRPP’s founding in 2001, 92 organizations representing 367 entities have received accreditation. Eleven institutions including Wayne State University and the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, achieved full accreditation this cycle. Michigan State University is the only other Michigan institution with full accreditation status, granted in December of 2005. Accreditation is valid for three years.

To learn more about AAHRPP, visit www.aahrpp.org.  For more information about WSU’s human research integrity programs, visit www.hic.wayne.edu.

Wayne State University is one of the nation’s pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world.