Creighton University prides itself on teaching both high academic standards and a respect for human life. Because of these standards, Creighton has joined the elite group of 250 other U.S. health organizations that have been granted accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP).

Creighton joins organizations like Johns Hopkins, Harvard and Duke who have also earned AAHRPP accreditation. AAHRPP is a nonprofit organization that provides safeguards that exceed U.S. federal standards for groups who conduct human research. For four years, Creighton has worked to earn this accreditation, said Kathleen Taggart, Associated Vice President for Research and Compliance.

“This whole program is about protecting humans and that our institution protects these human subjects,” Taggart said. “It’s important that both undergraduate and graduate students understand the importance of these high standards.”

“Many students participate in research that includes a human subject and the accreditation ensures the protection of their rights,” Taggart said. “Contracts for higher standards, monitoring and auditing safety and the privacy of these subjects, all aids in their protection.”

“It demonstrates Creighton’s commitment to the sanctity of human life as well as the importance of research to improve health care for society as a whole,” Taggart said.

The accreditation process is voluntary and involves a thorough review by a panel of peers of written policies and procedures involving human research as well as extensive onsite interviews about how those procedures are implemented. Patsy Nowatzke, the director of the Institutional Review Board, said this process was beneficial and vital to the organization.

“We have really expanded our educational programs, examined our programs and strengthened our applications,” Nowatzke said. “If we teach people how to do something the right way, they will do it the right way.”

In the process to receive accreditation, a review board interviewed 50 random Creighton faculty and staff to see how the university really supports the protection of human research. After visiting, the parting statement from the review board was that they got the feeling that Creighton University really lives out its mission, according to Nowatzke.

“Of all the things they could have said, that was what made me proud,” Nowatzke said.