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MUSC, VA steadfast in protecting research study participants



South Carolinians who have struggled with whether to participate in a research study now have added evidence that MUSC and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (VAMC) offer the utmost in human safety and welfare.
 
MUSC and Ralph H. Johnson VAMC were awarded full accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP). Accreditation is available to organizations worldwide that conduct biomedical, behavioral or social sciences research involving humans. While accreditation is not mandatory, MUSC and VA research administrators and faculty have always and continue to pursue extra steps to ensure patient safety throughout research studies.
 
“This accreditation is the gold standard seal of approval for organizations involved in clinical trials and human research. It ensures that the highest standards and protections extend to participants in all research studies within MUSC and the VA’s purview,“ said Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., MUSC president. “The infrastructure that was put in place to obtain this designation will also make it easier for people to access research studies that would benefit the entire community.”
 
Those who participate in a research study at MUSC or the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC can trust that the AAHRPP accreditation requires quality enhancement and regulatory monitoring that improves efficiency, effectiveness, and record-keeping.
 
“This process required a diverse group of individuals from across MUSC and the VA to come together, conduct a detailed review and enhance various components of our clinical and translational research programs. Our goal was to make sure we are providing the highest level of protection and care that our research study participants deserve,” said Rita Young, Ph.D., Ralph H. Johnson VAMC associate chief of staff for research and development. “Receiving this accreditation validates the VA’s and the university’s commitment to all aspects of human research participant safety and welfare.”
 
MUSC and the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC join a select group of 194 institutions, including Emory University, Duke University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of California at San Francisco.
 
“The accreditation of our Human Research Protection Program by AAHRPP is a signature achievement that represents our commitment to the highest standards in all aspects of our mission,” said Stephen M. Lanier, Ph.D., MUSC associate provost for research. 



Friday, Sept. 25, 2009



The Catalyst Online is published weekly by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to The Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.