Leadership
- Director, Office of Human Research
- Director, Clinical Research Unit
- Professor, SKMC Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
For Research Activities
- Senior Associate Provost, Research Integrity, Conduct & Compliance
- Professor, SKMC Department of Pathology, Anatomy & Cell Biology
The Benefits of Accreditation
Thomas Jefferson University is proud to have its Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) fully accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP). AAHRPP is the premier national accrediting body for HRPPs.
Accreditation benefits research organizations, participants, and the research enterprise as a whole. The accreditation process requires organizations to take a comprehensive look at their HRPPs to identify and address any weaknesses and to build upon their strengths. The result is a more cohesive HRPP, with the systems in place not only to protect research participants but also to advance research more efficiently and effectively.
The following are just some of the advantages of Thomas Jefferson University's AAHRPP accreditation:
The highest possible standards and protections. AAHRPP’s high ethical and professional standards provide the most comprehensive protections for research participants. These standards exceed federal requirements for safeguarding participants and extend to all research studies overseen by an organization’s HRPP.
An assurance of quality. Accreditation is evidence of a quality research program. The AAHRPP seal indicates not only that an organization safeguards research participants but also that data are reliable and credible and the organization has made a commitment to continuous quality improvement.
Improved efficiency, effectiveness. AAHRPP requires organizations to take an unprecedented view of their research protection programs to make sure not just that policies and procedures are in place but also that they are documented and translated into practice. As a result, accredited organizations tend to have more streamlined and effective policies and procedures. These organizations also typically keep better records and are more likely to avoid costly shutdowns and problematic inspections.
A competitive edge. Sponsors and other funding agencies recognize that accredited organizations have more efficient operations, provide more comprehensive protections, and produce high-quality data. Increasingly, accreditation is expected to be a condition of research support.
Government recognition. Federal agencies acknowledge the value of accreditation. They have begun seeking accreditation for their own HRPPs and using accreditation status to guide decisions. Regulators are more likely, for example, to target non-accredited organizations for inspections. With its commitment to quality and accountability, accreditation also is a viable alternative to further regulation.
Public trust, confidence. Prospective participants, and the public in general, are looking to the research enterprise to take responsibility for ensuring that research is conducted safely and ethically. Since accreditation is a voluntary, objective measure of quality, participants are more likely to choose organizations that have earned the AAHRPP seal.
The following are just some of the advantages of Thomas Jefferson University's AAHRPP accreditation:
The highest possible standards and protections. AAHRPP’s high ethical and professional standards provide the most comprehensive protections for research participants. These standards exceed federal requirements for safeguarding participants and extend to all research studies overseen by an organization’s HRPP.
An assurance of quality. Accreditation is evidence of a quality research program. The AAHRPP seal indicates not only that an organization safeguards research participants but also that data are reliable and credible, and the organization has made a commitment to continuous quality improvement.
Improved efficiency, effectiveness. AAHRPP requires organizations to take an unprecedented view of their research protection programs to make sure not just that policies and procedures are in place but also that they are documented and translated into practice. As a result, accredited organizations tend to have more streamlined and effective policies and procedures. These organizations also typically keep better records and are more likely to avoid costly shutdowns and problematic inspections.
A competitive edge. Sponsors and other funding agencies recognize that accredited organizations have more efficient operations, provide more comprehensive protections, and produce high-quality data. Increasingly, accreditation is expected to be a condition of research support.
Government recognition. Federal agencies acknowledge the value of accreditation. They have begun seeking accreditation for their own HRPPs and using accreditation status to guide decisions. Regulators are more likely, for example, to target nonaccredited organizations for inspections. With its commitment to quality and accountability, accreditation also is a viable alternative to further regulation.
Public trust, confidence. Prospective participants, and the public in general, are looking to the research enterprise to take responsibility for ensuring that research is conducted safely and ethically. Since accreditation is a voluntary, objective measure of quality, participants are more likely to choose organizations that have earned the AAHRPP seal.