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 reaffirms UGA’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of individuals participating in research studies. The university first received this accreditation in 2018, and the latest designation comes as UGA embarks on the establishment of a new School of Medicine and School of Nursing.
Chris King, interim vice president for research at UGA, expressed his satisfaction with the reaccreditation. He stated, “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.” He congratulated the HRPP team and the broader human research community at UGA for achieving this significant recognition.
Accreditation Highlights and Community Engagement
The AAHRPP’s accreditation report highlighted the extensive domain knowledge possessed by the leaders of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This expertise is largely attributed to the educational and training programs developed by the HRPP Office, which are designed to enhance human research education.
The report also noted the IRB members’ thorough understanding of the communities impacted by UGA’s research initiatives. “Three staff members were dedicated to the development and implementation of educational offerings for researchers and research staff and for the development of community engagement activities,” the AAHRPP report stated. This effort underscores UGA’s commitment to fostering trust and relationships within the community it serves.
The reaccreditation followed 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. Kim Fowler, director of the HRPP Office, expressed gratitude to the faculty and research staff who participated in virtual interviews during the site visit. She noted, “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.”
Standards for Accreditation
To obtain AAHRPP accreditation, organizations must demonstrate that they have implemented comprehensive safeguards throughout their research operations and adhere to rigorous standards for ethical research practices. Organizations undergo reaccreditation evaluations three years after their initial accreditation and every five years thereafter.
For further details about UGA’s Human Research Protection Program, individuals can visit the program’s official website.
