The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) has accredited seven more organizations: four in the U.S. and three in Asia, including the first organization in Thailand.

These latest accreditations—of health systems, academic medical centers, an independent institutional review board and a marrow donor program—reflect widespread appreciation of the value of AAHRPP accreditation, in virtually every sector of the research enterprise and every region of the globe.

The newly accredited organizations are:

• Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia, Pa.
• China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
• Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
• Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, Wis.
• National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, Minn.
• Pearl IRB, Indianapolis, Ind.
• St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India

"Throughout the research enterprise, organizations have come to recognize that one of the most effective ways to safeguard research participants is to have one standard worldwide for research protections," said Elyse Summers, AAHRPP president and CEO. "With more than 200 AAHRPP accredited organizations—and many more working currently to achieve AAHRPP accreditation—it is clear that AAHRPP has set that global standard."

To earn AAHRPP accreditation, organizations must demonstrate that they have built extensive safeguards into every level of their research operation and that they adhere to high standards for research. In today's global, collaborative research enterprise, organizations increasingly rely on AAHRPP accreditation status to help identify trusted research partners.

To date, AAHRPP has accredited organizations in 46 states, Canada, China, India, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. All major U.S. independent institutional review boards have earned AAHRPP accreditation. In addition, more than 60% of U.S. research-intensive universities and over 65% of U.S. medical schools are either AAHRPP accredited or have begun the accreditation process. The NIH, the world's largest public funder of research, has earned accreditation, as has Pfizer, the largest industry sponsor of clinical research.