Introducing the Office of the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Office of Research is pleased to announce that the Office of the IRB has been renamed the Office of the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP).

This change reflects UAB’s commitment to supporting safe, ethical, and compliant research. Since 2007, UAB has maintained accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP), an independent, nonprofit organization that sets rigorous standards for quality and participant protection.

The Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) remain a vital component of the HRPP. However, this new name recognizes the broader scope of responsibilities that extend beyond IRB review to ensure the protection of human research participants.

“As research has grown in complexity, so too has the need for a more integrated approach,” says Adam McClintock, Executive Director of the HRPP. “The term HRPP reflects our coordination of IRB review with other essential compliance partners, including financial conflicts of interest, sponsored programs, research safety committees, and investigational drug services. Moreover, the timing is ideal, in preparation for implementation of the MyUABResearch IRB module and refreshed policy and procedure with the Huron HRPP toolkit.”

The Office of the HRPP will continue to support the work of the IRBs while advancing process improvements, ensuring compliance, and providing guidance that benefits the entire UAB research community.