The University of Georgia’s Human Research Protection Program, which works to ensure the safety and protection of people who participate as research subjects, has again been accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs. UGA was first accredited by AAHRPP in 2018, and this vital reaccreditation comes as the university has launched 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,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “I congratulate the HRPP team and the human research community across UGA on this well-earned designation.”
In its accreditation report, AAHRPP cited a high level of domain knowledge among IRB leaders, in no small part due to the HRPP Office’s programs in human research education and training. The organization also praised IRB members’ specific knowledge of communities served and affected by UGA’s human research.
“Three staff members were dedicated to development and implementation of educational offerings for the researchers and research staff and for the development of community engagement activities,” read the final AAHRPP report. “The staff were also in the process of developing programming for building relationships and trust with their community.”
The reaccreditation comes on the heels of an AAHRPP site visit in fall 2025, supported not only by the HRPP Office but also by IRB members, ethics committee members and other human research-engaged faculty and staff who comprise the overall program.
“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. “It is clear from the AAHRPP site visit report that these interviews were key to understanding UGA’s research enterprise and the dedication to quality human research that serves our communities.”
To earn AAHRPP accreditation, organizations must show that they have built extensive safeguards into every level of their research operation and that they adhere to high standards for research. Programs are evaluated for reaccreditation three years after their initial accreditation and every five years thereafter.
For more information on UGA’s Human Research Protection Program, visit the program’s website.