From the President and CEO

Continually Evolving to Better Serve You

As we put the final touches on our 2024 Annual Conference preparations, I find myself reflecting on how far we’ve come in the four years since the pandemic forced the abrupt cancellation of our 2020 gathering.

Back then, we were shuttered in our homes, anxious and uncertain about the future as we faced the most significant public health crisis in our lifetimes. Yet, each year since, we’ve taken major steps forward. And, next month—May 21-23, to be exact—we will be together in force, in person and remotely, for “Science and Standards in San Diego.”

As you can see from the agenda, the Conference promises to be informative, fascinating, and thought-provoking. We’ve enlisted experts from across the research enterprise to tackle complex issues that are expected to present challenges for years to come. We’ve also tapped many of our accredited colleagues to share their experience and successes in meeting AAHRPP standards and adapting to a changing regulatory environment. We are reminded, once again, how fortunate we are to be part of such a committed, collegial community.

The agenda and the stories in this spring 2024 issue of our Advance newsletter also underscore that AAHRPP is continually evolving—with you and for you. As our pre-conference Accreditation Workshop indicates, accreditation is and always will be central to AAHRPP’s mission. At the same time, AAHRPP also has a broader role to play as a resource for both accredited and not-yet-accredited organizations.

We feel a profound responsibility to live our values of excellence, inclusion, and community engagement. Those values are reflected in our Conference breakout sessions and exemplified by the AAHRPP team, including new Board members Amy Ben-Arieh, JD, and Elizabeth Jacobs, MD, whom we profile in this newsletter. Both are longstanding advocates for health equity and inclusive research practices, and we are thrilled to add their expertise to help us better serve you and the broader research community.

In closing, I want to make a final pitch to those of you who have not yet registered for the 2024 Conference, especially if you haven’t attended an AAHRPP conference in the past. Our conference is known for its welcoming atmosphere. To some extent, that’s because of the event’s size, but mostly it’s because we recognize your vital role in the research enterprise. Whether you’re a veteran research professional or a young HRPP staff member, we are all pulling in the same direction, working toward the same critical goals.

As AAHRPP’s President and CEO, I understand that you might think I’m biased. So, don’t take my word for it. Ask your colleagues or, better yet, come see for yourself.

Best,

Elyse I. Summers, JD

AAHRPP President and CEO