Human Research Protection Program

The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) is an independent, non-profit accrediting body. AAHRPP uses a voluntary, peer-driven, educational model to ensure that human research protection programs meet rigorous standards for quality and protection. Established 2017, BCDiabetes has a Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) which ensures that all research activities are conducted in a manner that continually protects the safety, rights and well-being of our research participants.

By seeking accreditation, BCDiabetes ensures that its HRPP is continually engaging in activity that makes patient safety, welfare and rights our highest priority, as our organization evolves and grows. In order to receive accreditation, we examined all of our policies and procedures in great detail to better understand how to incorporate safeguards for the rights and safety of our research participants into research standard practice, and external review.

We also committed to undergoing regular efforts to improve those practices with the help of our research collaborators, research participants, and research staff.

How does the BCDiabetes HRPP protect patients?

The participation of people with diabetes and related conditions is key for helping our researchers help answer important questions about new treatments, including safety, effectiveness, or interaction with other existing treatments, conditions or medical devices. These trials are carried out in compliance with specific local, provincial, national and (if applicable) international government regulations, rules and oversight.

When preparing to start research, BCDiabetes works with unaffiliated experts at arm’s-length (often called an ethics committee, Research Ethics Boards, REB, or Institutional Research Board, IRB) who examine every aspect of a trial to ensure participants are protected. They make sure the trial is designed to answer the questions in appropriate ways, and that potential benefits to participants outweigh the risk of harm. They also make sure that we have plans to monitor patients’ safety throughout the study and be able to continue to provide medical care to our patients over the course of the study. HHRP also ensures that BCDiabetes and its staff have no conflicts of interest that could affect care or study outcomes.

HRPP Staff & Participant Feedback

As part of the HRPP’s commitment to improving quality and compliance, BCDiabetes invites participants, staff, and partners in its clinical trials to submit any questions, concerns and complaints regarding their experience in our research activities.

Submit your feedback to us in one of the following ways:

• Use our online feedback form.
• Contact the clinic to speak to a staff member regarding any concerns.

Please specify whether you would like a response or acknowledgment, or if you would prefer to submit your feedback anonymously without private follow-up.