Adventist Health Glendale has been awarded Full Five-Year Reaccreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP) — the highest level of recognition granted by the nation’s leading accrediting body for research ethics and participant protection.
This reaccreditation affirms Adventist Health Glendale’s unwavering commitment to the rights, safety, and welfare of research participants, and underscores the hospital’s alignment with the rigorous ethical and regulatory standards upheld by federal agencies and international guidelines. AAHRPP reaccreditation places Adventist Health Glendale among an elite group of institutions nationwide that have demonstrated excellence in human research oversight and continuous quality improvement.
In its site review, AAHRPP commended the hospital’s thorough documentation of IRB deliberations, robust compliance infrastructure, and innovative community engagement — including multilingual outreach in English, Armenian, and Spanish through wellness programs and community education initiatives.
“Full five-year reaccreditation is the highest endorsement possible and a powerful affirmation of the exceptional work of our IRB team,” said Jekwon Yeh, MD, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Services, and Vice Chair of the Adventist Health System Radiation Oncology Council. “It assures our patients, investigators, and sponsors that Adventist Health Glendale meets the highest ethical and scientific standards in clinical research.”
Adventist Health Glendale’s IRB provides research oversight for 11 additional Adventist Health sites and residency programs across California, serving as a model of ethical governance within the system. For patients, this accreditation ensures informed consent, independent oversight, and safety monitoring throughout participation in any research protocol. For investigators, it represents a stable and trusted infrastructure that supports compliant, efficient study activation and monitoring.
“This achievement is a significant milestone for a community hospital,” Dr. Yeh added. “It reflects our mission to advance clinical excellence while ensuring every participant’s well-being is protected through the most stringent ethical oversight.”
With full AAHRPP reaccreditation through 2030, Adventist Health Glendale stands as a trusted partner for research sponsors, investigators, and referring physicians, reaffirming its position as a destination for advanced clinical care and responsible innovation in research.
The hospital’s IRB has supported a growing portfolio of nationally recognized clinical trials, including:
MONALEESA-2 Trial – a phase III study evaluating first-line ribociclib plus letrozole for hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, demonstrating significantly prolonged progression-free survival and manageable toxicity profiles.
EMERALD Trial – a phase III international study comparing elacestrant monotherapy versus standard endocrine therapies in patients with advanced or metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer, which informed the next generation of oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs).
Impella ECP Study (Ongoing) – a multi-center interventional trial assessing the safety and outcomes of the novel Impella ECP percutaneous heart pump for patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HRPCI), advancing mechanical circulatory support technologies.