Sarah Mumford, director of the Office for the Protection of Research Subjects at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, has been appointed the University of Rochester’s associate vice president for human subject protection, effective December 1.
Reporting to the Vice President for Research, Mumford comes to Rochester to lead the Office for Human Subject Protect (OHSP), which ensures that the University protects the rights, welfare, and safety of all research participants. She will oversee a comprehensive human subject protection program for the entire institution in support of its mission in education, research, and patient care, and in compliance with applicable federal, state and institutional regulations, guidelines and policies. The AVP provides education, outreach, and training for the University research community regarding the OHSP, including determining when Institutional Review Board (IRB) review is necessary. The IRB ensures that ethical and safe research practices are used when research is conducted with human subjects.
Mumford brings a wealth of academic and regulatory knowledge to this position with more than 20 years of IRB experience in both industry and higher education. Prior to her time at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Mumford directed the Institutional Review Board at the University of Utah, where she oversaw the professional staff responsible for the IRB submissions and protocols. In 2022, she joined Illinois’ Office for the Protection of Research Subjects, responsible for transforming the Human Research Protection Program at the institution, streamlining IRB review, and establishing standard operating procedures for IRB committees and office operations.
Mumford holds a masters of business administration and a bachelor of science in management both from Purdue University.