Contact: Susan Hall, (214) 820-1817
E-mail: SusanH@BaylorHealth.edu

(Dallas, TX- Jan. 13, 2004) - Baylor Research Institute (BRI) at Baylor Health Care System announced today that it has earned Full AAHRPP Accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs® (AAHRPP®), a not-for-profit accreditation organization that maintains rigorous standards for the protection of human participants in research as a means of fostering continued growth and confidence in scientific investigation. BRI is only the fifth research institution to be awarded AAHRPP accreditation.

AAHRPP describes accreditation as "a tangible demonstration to the public that an organization goes beyond minimal legal requirements in making protection of research participants a top priority."

"Accreditation is a significant achievement, signaling BRI's proactive commitment to high standards and the protection of research participants," said Michael Ramsay, M.D., president, Baylor Research Institute. "This distinction represents an important milestone to achieving Baylor's vision of becoming the most trusted source of comprehensive health care. Accreditation communicates BRI's dedication to professionalism and high standards."

The accreditation process by itself, which includes comprehensive self-assessment and rigorous peer review by outside experts, promotes continued enhancements in participant protection and helps ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Over time, consistent application of stringent standards and practices helps to raise the bar for human research protection and, with it, the quality of that research.

Established in 1982, BRI promotes and supports research to bring innovative treatments from the laboratory workbench to the patient bedside. To achieve this bench-to-bedside concept, the institute focuses on basic science, clinical trials, and health care effectiveness and quality of care research. Investigators on the medical staffs at Baylor medical centers are conducting more than 400 active research protocols spanning more than 20 medical specialties.