History of PRIM&R’s Membership

During PRIM&R’s first decade of existence, our conferences grew dramatically in both attendance and reputation. In the process, our board of directors became aware of the growing educational needs of institutional review board (IRB) and institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) members and administrators, and began to consider ways in which PRIM&R might help meet those needs.

Eleven years after the formation of PRIM&R, a new membership division, the Applied Research Ethics National Association (ARENA), was created within PRIM&R to offer a professional community for IRB and IACUC members, administrators, and others interested in and concerned with applied research ethics.  ARENA’s mission was to “promote educational activities, networking, the resolution and/or amelioration of mutual problems, and the professional advancement of its members.”                      

ARENA had 61 charter members and flourished from there, developing a lively and committed membership community.  Over the years, the group was led by a caring and dedicated group of past presidents and council members.

In 2006, as a result of a comprehensive assessment conducted by the PRIM&R board of directors, membership leaders, and staff, ARENA membership was fully integrated into the organization as a whole.  The name ARENA was retired in July 2006.

Today, PRIM&R’s is nearly 3,500 members strong.  As a member, you’ll be able to draw on the intellectual capital of this large and diverse group.  PRIM&R’s membership includes professionals working with human subject protections, animal care and use, institutional biosafety programs, RECs, and ESCROs.  They are HRPP/IACUC/IBC/REC/ESCRO administrators, researchers, research staff, institutional officials, government representatives, subject advocates, ethicists, policy makers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology personnel, and attorneys.

Questions?