Bethesda, Maryland, May 24, 2004 — The national Award for Excellence in Human Research Protection honors demonstrated excellence in promoting the well-being of people who participate in research. The Health Improvement Institute is now accepting applications for the 2004 awards. The deadline for receipt of entries is September 27, 2004. Award categories are:

• Best practice that has demonstrated benefit — given to a research institution, unit (such as an, Institutional Review Board), or individual
• Innovation established through research or other report published in the last 5 years — given to an individual (or team) that produced a significant contribution to advancing human research protection
• Life-time achievement — given to an individual in academe, industry, or government.
  

A panel of judges, representing the various sectors involved in human research, evaluates entries.
Winners will be announced in December 2004.

The Award for Excellence in Human Research Protection was established by the Health Improvement Institute, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization based in Bethesda, Maryland, to encourage and to recognize excellence and innovation in human research protection. The Office for Human Research Protections of the Department of Health and Human Services was the founding sponsor of the awards program. The 2004 awards competition is also supported by an unrestricted grant from Pfizer.

More information and/or application packets are available from the Awards Coordinator at 301-320-0971 or by email at hii@hii.org, or on the program webpage.

Health Improvement Institute is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to improving the quality and productivity of America’s health care. The Institute conducts forums on emerging treatments and sponsors national awards recognizing excellence in health communications.

Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) — together with the Food and Drug Administration — oversees programs for the protection 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. Almost two years old and based in the Office of the Secretary at HHS, OHRP is leading an effort to remodel the Federal oversight system, focusing on proactive education and quality improvement initiatives, together with enhanced compliance oversight and surveillance, to achieve greater effectiveness and accountability. To complement the government’s oversight role, the Department has also promoted private, voluntary accreditation as a means to improve the overall quality and effectiveness of the system for protection of research participants.