The University of Missouri’s Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) have successfully completed reaccreditation through AAHRPP (Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs), reaffirming Mizzou’s commitment to the highest standards of ethical research involving human participants.
The reaccreditation process is voluntary and rigorous. Institutions must demonstrate not only compliance with federal regulations but also adherence to enhanced ethical standards and continuous quality improvement practices. For the IRB team within the Division of Research, Innovation & Impact (RII), the milestone represents more than a year of focused preparation.
A year in the making
Preparation begins 10 to 12 months before submission. The team reviews hundreds of pages of accreditation standards, updates policies and procedures, incorporates regulatory changes and ensures documentation reflects day-to-day practice. This year’s submission exceeded 1,000 pages.
Following document review, external site visitors conducted a two-day evaluation, interviewing staff, board members, administrators and researchers while reviewing active studies to confirm that written policies align with real-world implementation.
“They’re essentially triangulating everything,” said Lori Wilcox, director of the human subjects research program. “What we say we do in our policies, what people say we do in interviews and what’s actually documented in our studies — all of it has to line up.”
Protecting research participants
The HRPP and IRB play a central role in protecting individuals who volunteer to participate in research at Mizzou. The team works closely with investigators to ensure risks are minimized, informed consent documents are clear and complete, vulnerable populations receive appropriate protections and federal and FDA requirements are met.
The IRB includes 33 members, primarily faculty and staff volunteers, along with community and non-scientist representatives. Members dedicate significant time each month to reviewing research proposals and monitoring ongoing studies.
“Our board members are incredibly dedicated,” Wilcox said. “They’re volunteering their time on top of everything else they do, and they take that responsibility very seriously.”
Holding to a higher standard
While federal compliance is mandatory, AAHRPP accreditation goes further. It incorporates ethical principles outlined in foundational guidance such as “The Belmont Report” and requires institutions to demonstrate a culture of continuous improvement.
“There are regulatory requirements we must meet,” said Janelle Greening, associate director of compliance, “but accreditation holds us to a higher standard. We build in additional protections because it’s the right thing to do.”
For investigators, reaccreditation means working within a system designed not only to meet regulatory requirements, but to support ethical, high-quality research from study design through completion.
Maintaining accreditation also helps position the university for required federal audits, including periodic FDA inspections. The reaccreditation process mirrors many of the elements evaluated during those reviews, helping ensure readiness.
“Our IRB and HRPP team demonstrate every day what it means to uphold the highest standards of integrity in research,” said Michele Kennett, associate vice chancellor of research compliance and integrity. “Reaccreditation reflects their dedication, expertise and commitment to protecting research participants while supporting our investigators. I am incredibly proud of the work they do on behalf of the university and the communities we serve.”