Join us in Detroit May 19-21 for our 2026 AAHRPP Annual Conference: Great Lakes, Great Minds Meet in Michigan! The conference will bring together the human research protection community for three days of learning, connection, and celebration. This year is special: We're marking AAHRPP's 25th anniversary, and the program reflects both how far we've come and where we need to go next. Registration closes soon, so now is the time to secure your spot.
Tuesday, May 19: Start Strong with a Workshop (In Person Only)
Kick off your conference experience with one of two full-day, hands-on workshops, both offered exclusively in person.
Your Roadmap to Accreditation is designed for organizations pursuing initial accreditation or reaccreditation. AAHRPP accreditation experts will walk you through the accreditation process and share helpful tools, real-world examples, proven strategies, and insider tips. You’ll also meet AAHRPP team members who are happy to assist you at any point in your accreditation journey.
The CAN Workshop is exclusively for AAHRPP-accredited organizations. It provides an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues to address HRPP-related issues and create tools and resources to implement and share. Attendees choose from targeted breakout session topics and engage in peer-to-peer problem solving on issues, such as enhancing participant understanding of human research, reporting events within your HRPP, and streamlining operations without compromising oversight.
Wednesday, May 20: Three Plenaries You Won’t Want to Miss
The main conference opens Wednesday with three thought-provoking plenary sessions:
Innovation With Integrity. How do IRBs assess and ensure the ethical conduct of research involving virtual reality, generative AI, robotic-assisted medical procedures, and other groundbreaking technologies? Representatives of four AAHRPP-accredited Michigan organizations share their experiences and approaches through fascinating real-world case studies.
Participant Payment at a Crossroads: Undue Influence or Just and Fair? Is it time to set aside concerns about paying research participants? If so, who decides what’s ethical and what’s fair? This session will consider attitudes of diverse stakeholders, review regulatory guidance, and explore potential guardrails and mitigation strategies.
A Call to Action: Reimagining the Future of Human Research Protections. Thirty-five years after the publication of the “Common Rule,” the systems designed to protect research participants are being tested in a world shaped by rapid scientific change, post-COVID-19 realities, and growing public mistrust. This session challenges the HRPP community to respond by moving beyond compliance to collective purpose. (See A Call to Reimagine Research Protections.)
Each plenary is followed by a deep-dive session where you can explore one topic in greater depth.
Thursday, May 21: 20 Breakout Sessions + a Milestone Closing
20 Breakout Sessions to Choose From! Thursday’s sessions offer something for everyone. Looking for tips on how to support community-engaged research or build a culture of continuous learning? Have questions about reviewing research involving supplements or what to do when a study ends early? Maybe you want the latest information on AI. Thursday’s presentations cover these topics and more.
Closing Plenary: AAHRPP at 25. Our final plenary is a celebration of AAHRPP’s 25th anniversary and the transformation of human research protections from a fragmented, compliance-driven system into a robust, community-driven enterprise. The session also looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities of the future.
More Than Sessions
Beyond the program, the conference is a chance to vote on poster presentations, celebrate newly accredited organizations, and recognize this year’s Friends of AAHRPP award recipients. It's also one of the best settings in our field to reconnect with colleagues, meet new ones, and come away re-energized for the work ahead.
Plus, it’s an easy way to meet with representatives of our event sponsors, Advarra and WCG, and exhibitors: Cayuse, CITI Program, HRP Consulting Group, Huron Consulting Group, PRIM&R, Savini Consulting, SMART IRB, Tech Software, The PEER Consulting Group, and Univo IRB. Special thanks to them and all our presenters.
The main conference (Wednesday-Thursday) is available both in-person and virtually, with all four plenaries and selected breakouts livestreamed. That said, attending in person gives you access to the full program and the kind of connections that don't happen on a screen.
Not registered yet? Here’s your chance.
