The mission of the BRANY IRB is to protect the rights and ensure the welfare of all human research subjects.
BRANY is the first IRB in the state of New York to receive full accreditation by AAHRPP. This is the second full accreditation awarded to BRANY, with the first issued in 2004 from NCQA.
BRANY’s IRB model is unique in that its IRB committees are comprised of members from participating institutions’ IRBs. This structure promotes diversity and impartiality, enhancing the safety of research subjects and the efficiency of the research process. In the industry, this is referred to as an "alternative IRB," and BRANY is the first of this type of IRB in the nation to receive full accreditation from AAHRPP. Alternative IRBs are gaining momentum across the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently held a national conference on this topic, called “National Conference on Alternative IRB Models: Optimizing Human Subject Protection.”