2008 Human Research Protection Award Recipients Announced

BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The winner of the 2008 Award for Excellence in Human Research Protection was announced today by Dr. Peter G. Goldschmidt, President and Founder of the Health Improvement Institute.

The winner of the annual award was the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center — for its best practice “IND Regulatory and Monitoring Program.” This program provides for 1) enhanced human subjects protection, 2) improved data quality for clinical trials, 3) an active, vital relationship with federal agencies and 4) increased protection for institutions.

“The Award program offers a way to gain positive recognition for excellence in the field of human research protection,” said Dr. Goldschmidt. “This year’s winner continues the high standard in best practices that have been submitted for an Award since the program began.”

Awards are given for demonstrated excellence in promoting the well being of people who participate in research. The Health Improvement Institute created this Award program. The Office of Human Research Protection was the founding sponsor of the Award program. Judges and Committee and Award Advisory Board members are volunteers. This year’s judges were drawn from provider, research review, compliance, legal, and consulting organizations.

About Health Improvement Institute:

Health Improvement Institute is a non-profit, tax exempt, 501(c)3, charitable organization dedicated to improving the quality and productivity of America’s health care. The Institute’s principal program objective it to provide information to enable people to make informed health care choices. The Institute has established expertise in evaluating the quality of health information on the Internet, conducts forms and workshops, and sponsors national awards programs to recognize excellence, including the Award for Excellence in Human Research Protection. For more information, visit www.hii.org.

The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) — together with the federal Food and Drug Administration — oversees programs for the protections of human subjects at more than 4,000 HHS-funded universities, hospitals, and other medical and behavioral research institutions and private research sites in the United States and abroad.

For information about the 2009 Award for Excellence in Human Research Protection, please contact the Award Coordinator at 301-320-0965 or by email at hii@hii.org.

SOURCE Health Improvement Institute