MedStar Health Research Institute Receives National Recognition for Protecting Research Participants

Accreditation highlights MHRI’s commitment to safe, ethical, high-quality research.

COLUMBIA, Md. — MedStar Health Research Institute (MHRI) has received full accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). This recognition demonstrates that MHRI has met rigorous standards for safeguarding individuals who participate in research studies.

AAHRPP accreditation is a top honor for organizations conducting research with human participants. To earn it, an organization must show it has strong policies, careful oversight, and a clear focus on safety and ethics.

“Research depends on trust,” said Neil Weissman, MD, president of MHRI. “We are honored to receive this elite designation that shows our strong commitment to protecting the rights, safety, and well-being of every person who takes part in research. It also salutes the hard work of our investigators, research staff, compliance teams, and Institutional Review Board members.”

MHRI is the research arm of MedStar Health. It supports research across the health system and helps bring new treatments, technologies, and ways of caring for patients to the communities we serve. 

The AAHRPP review process includes a close look at an organization’s policies, procedures, and research practices. It also includes interviews with key staff members. Organizations that earn accreditation must meet high standards that often go beyond basic legal requirements and show a strong commitment to participant safety and ongoing improvement.

MHRI is one of only 205 research organizations in the United States to earn this accreditation.