Office for Research Protections

The Office for Research Protections (ORP) is Penn State’s home for research ethics and compliance, where we partner with researchers to maintain the integrity of Penn State research.

Announcements

July 29, 2026
As a reminder, beginning August 5, all covered individuals named on NASA grant and cooperative agreement proposals will be required to attest that they have completed research security training prior ...
July 28, 2026
Responsible Use of AI It is best to use only closed-loop, University-approved AI tools in your work. When using AI, follow applicable requirements related to intellectual property, sponsor or funder e...
July 27, 2026
Penn State’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) is looking for volunteers interested in contributing directly to Penn State research by representing the community as non-affiliated committee members. Th...

Education

The ORP oversees ACES (ACOR Certification and Education Series), the CITI program and RECR trainings on research ethics and compliance. We also offer in-person and online training for the submission of research to the IRB and IACUC. For training and requirements, see the Education program page.

Accreditation

We maintain accreditation with the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) and the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). These accreditations are voluntary, selective, and require we uphold rigorous ethical standards.

AAHRPP Certification Seal