Human Research Accreditation Canada
HRA Canada is an independent, not-for-profit accrediting body for human research. It accredits Canadian Human Research Protection Programs (HRPPs) through a bilingual, voluntary, affordable, peer-driven program based on international and national standards for human research.
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We believe that when it comes to risk management and safeguarding the rights and welfare of research participants, Canada is among the best places in the world to conduct human research. Our mission is to promote Canadian excellence in human research through accreditation.
Accreditation signifies that an organization has proven that its HRPP meets a rigorous set of national and international standards focused on research participant protection, evidence-based practices, efficiency, and quality of service. An organization with an accredited HRPP has made a commitment to continuous quality improvement and to conducting ethical and rigorous human research.
Benefits of Accreditation
Human research accreditation is a voluntary process. It confirms that an organization has made a commitment to continuous quality improvement and is accountable for all of its human research activities. By achieving and maintaining accreditation, an organization demonstrates that it has rigorous processes to safeguard research participants and that it produces reliable and credible data.
There are numerous benefits of human research accreditation -
For your organization:
- A robust culture of responsible human research conduct at all levels of management
- Streamlined policies and procedures, and increased efficiencies that are documented and translated into practice
- A risk-reduction consciousness that results in a safer environment for research participants
- Less likelihood of downtime due to inspections by regulators and research sponsors
- Assurance that all ethical and regulatory requirements are being met, and in most cases, are being exceeded
For research sponsors:
- Assurance that the organization meets high ethical standards for the protection of research participants
- Assurance that the organization meets or exceeds all current regulations, policies, guidelines, and standards
- Recognition that the accredited organization will operate more efficiently and produce high-quality data
- Assurance that the organization has excellent record-keeping procedures and is less likely to experience downtime due to regulatory inspections
For the public:
- Assurance that human research is being conducted safely and ethically
- Assurance that safeguards are in place to protect the well-being of members of the public when they choose to participate in research
- Trust in human researchers and confidence in the data produced by the human research
- Transparency and accountability regarding the conduct of human research
Request an Accreditation Application Form
Accreditation is a voluntary process. It confirms that an organization has made a commitment to continuous quality improvement and is accountable for all of its human research activities.