Copernicus Group IRB Receives Full AAHRPP Reaccreditation

Research Triangle Park, NC, August 2, 2011- Copernicus Group IRB (CGIRB) announced today that it has received full reaccreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). AAHRPP is an independent, non-profit accrediting body that sets rigorous standards for quality and protection of research study participants. To earn AAHRPP accreditation, organizations must provide tangible evidence— through policies, procedures, and practices—of their commitment to scientifically and ethically sound research and to continuous improvement.

“At CGIRB, we are committed to the continuous improvement of our Human Research Protection Program,” said Yvonne Higgins, CGIRB’s Director of Quality Management. “Reaccreditation is evidence of our commitment to the highest level of quality and to upholding our mission--protecting the rights and welfare of human research subjects.”

As an organization driven by quality and innovation, CGIRB became one of the first independent institutional review boards awarded full AAHRPP accreditation in 2004. CGIRB was awarded full reaccreditation in 2007 and 2011. The most recent reaccreditation will extend through fall 2015.

About Copernicus Group IRB

Experience and innovation in ethical review ®

Copernicus Group IRB, established in July 1996, is a leading independent institutional review board ("IRB") dedicated to ensuring the rights and welfare of research study participants. The IRB provides ethical review of research protocols, investigators, and subject information and consent forms to ensure compliance with federal regulations set forth in 21 CFR, 45 CFR and ICH/GCP Guidelines. CGIRB achieved full AAHRPP accreditation in 2004, reaccreditation in 2007 and 2011, and ISO 9001:2008 certification in 2010. For more information, visit http://www.cgirb.com.

About the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs

The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP) promotes high quality research through an accreditation process that helps organizations worldwide strengthen their human research protection programs.

For more information, visit http://www.aahrpp.org.

Corporate Contact:

Rebecca Sipes

Copernicus Group IRB

rsipes@cgirb.com

(888) 303-2224 ext. 151

Media Contact:

Gwen Hoover

Altitude Marketing

gwen@altitudemarketing.com

610-421-8601 ext. 4