Program for the Protection of Human Subjects (PPHS)

Mount Sinai’s Human Research Protection Program is a comprehensive system to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of subjects in Human Research. The Program for the Protection of Human Subjects (PPHS) is a key component of Mount Sinai’s efforts to ensure human subject protections. It supports our researchers in assuring the ethical conduct of research and compliance with federal, state and institutional regulations and provides a professional office staff to assist both investigators, participants, and five Institutional Review Boards (IRBs).

In addition, the overall Human Research Protection Program at Mount Sinai includes additional organizational, administrative, and investigator components, and is based on all individuals fulfilling their roles and responsibilities. Essential aspects of the overall mission of human subjects protection are provided by the organized interaction of the PPHS with the Financial Conflict of Interest Committee, the Clinical Trial Office, The Office of Research Compliance, the Biosafety Program and the Radiation Safety Committee.

Our Human Research Protection Plan describes Mount Sinai’s plan to comply with ethical and legal requirements for the conduct and oversight of Human Research.

Awarded Full Accreditation by AAHRPP

We are proud to announce that the Association for Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) has awarded full accreditation to our program. Earning AAHRPP accreditation is public affirmation of the overall excellence of the human research performed at Mount Sinai, and demonstrates Mount Sinai's pursuit of the highest ethical practices and principles of human research protections. As the "gold seal," AAHRPP accreditation offers assurances—to research participants, researchers, sponsors, government regulators, and the general public—that a human research protection program is focused first and foremost on excellence. Read full story.

Announcement

Mount Sinai IRB Education Retreat - May 17, 2012
We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Mount Sinai IRB Education Retreat, which will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at the New York Academy of Medicine (1216 Fifth Avenue at E. 103rd Street). The meeting is a full day event, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. It is sponsored by the Mount Sinai Program for the Protection of Human Subjects (PPHS) and is open to all Mount Sinai faculty, staff and students, as well as interested IRB and research colleagues within the New York metro area.

The IRB Education Retreat promises to engage and challenge as we discuss current human research protection issues encountered by IRBs and investigators. Attendees will enjoy presentations by nationally known bioethicists and IRB leadership. Our presenters will highlight controversy in research, along with practical guidance for problem resolution. Topics will include:

• Conflicts of interest in research: How is COI perceived by the public, by research personnel, and by Institutions?
• Children and adolescents in research: What regulatory and ethical considerations are critical for effective review of pediatric protocols?
• Case reports and case series: How might they significantly compromise privacy and confidentiality?
• What is and isn’t identifiable in 2012? Have the concepts of anonymity and confidentiality become obsolete?

There is no registration fee for Mount Sinai faculty, staff and students. The Retreat is available to individuals outside of Mount Sinai for a nominal fee of $125.00.

We are truly excited about this event and hope that you will be able to join us as we “retreat to advance” our understanding of research ethics and human research protection regulation.