Information for Compliance Partners Being Interviewed by AAHRPP

Thank you for your participation in Utah State University's upcoming AAHRPP Site Visit! The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) is an international, independent, nonprofit organization that reviews and accredits an institution's human research protection program (HRPP). The HRPP is made up of three primary areas: the institution itself, its IRB, and its researchers. Long regarded as the gold standard, AAHRPP accreditation demonstrates commitment to quality research programs. 

The Human Research Protections Office has provided AAHRPP with a written description of USU's policies, procedures, and resources. AAHRPP Site Visitors will conduct virtual interviews on October 1st and 2nd, 2026 to ensure that those policies and procedures are being adhered to. While the Human Research Protections Office will hold one-on-one preparation sessions, this page will also provide an overview of what to expect.

Please reach out if you have any questions during this preparation process! We're excited and proud to show AAHRPP our structures.

General Questions (These questions will likely be asked no matter your role)

• Where do you fall within USU’s HRPP?
• Where are protocols submitted? How do you learn when the IRB needs you to review something?
• What standards does USU use to review protocols? (Belmont Report, Common Rule)
• What is AAHRPP Accreditation, and why is it important?

Sample Organizational Questions

• How does the IRB communicate to you that your office's input is requested on a protocol review? (Usually through Ancillary Review processes, sometimes direct written request)
• What do you consider to be an institutional conflict of interest?
• How are institutional conflicts of interest disclosed? To whom? What happens when those impact a human subjects research project?
• How are institutional conflicts of interest managed?
• In your research commercialization process, is your ICOI policy applied? How?
• How are business interests kept separate from IRB review activities?
• Are grants & contracts and commercialization personnel part of the IRB review process?
• Are people whose roles have to do with bringing in money to the institution (like department heads, deans) kept separate from the IRB's review activities? How?
• Do you attend IRB meetings? If so, how often? If not, why not?
• Do you make comments about research projects proposed to the IRB?
• What kinds of reports do you receive about ongoing research studies?
• Who manages the Reliance Agreement process? 

Funding-Focused Questions

• Do some funding agencies have additional requirements?
• When do you work additional human research protections language into contracts? 
• How do you communicate or collaborate with the Human Research Protections Office?