About the MCW Human Research Protection Program

HRPP mission, organization, and contact information.

Mission Statement

MCW Human Research Protection Program’s (HRPP) primary mission is to protect the rights, welfare and privacy of all individuals participating in research sponsored by the Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Health and Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. The HRPP oversees and supports the MCW Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) which review all research studies involving human subjects for safety, compliance with regulations, scientific quality, and ethical standards. The HRPP provides guidance and resources for the MCW IRBs, investigators, and study team members. Ongoing training for researchers and quality improvement activities are directed toward compliance with regulations and scientific integrity.

An AAHRPP Accredited Institution since 2011

The Medical College of Wisconsin joins an elite group of about 250 U.S. organizations and seven organizations from outside the United States in achieving full accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP). In achieving full AAHRPP accreditation, MCW has demonstrated its commitment to rigorous standards that help protect research participants while ensuring that society continues to reap the benefits of research.

HRPP Leadership

Ryan Spellecy, PhD
Assistant Provost for Research
Director, Human Research Protections Program
(414) 955-8422 | rspellecy@mcw.edu
Human Subject Research Determinations; FDA-regulated devices; Engagement in Research consultation

Kathryn Gaudreau
Director, IRB Development and Education
(414) 955-8337 | kgaudrea@mcw.edu
Policy & Procedure development, Research Education; AAHRPP Accreditation

Roxanne Pritchard
Quality Improvement Manager
(414) 955-8844 | rpritcha@mcw.edu
Routine Review; For-Cause Audits; Requested Reviews; Consent Observations

Taylor Griffith
HRPP Regulatory Analyst
(414) 955-4408 | tgriffith@mcw.edu
Consent Form templates & compliance-related inquiries

AnnMarie Eve
HRPP Operations Manager Senior
(414) 955-4415 | aeve@mcw.edu
General IRB Operations, eBridge SmartForms, Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office, Emergency Use Notification

Paulette Jacobs
HRPP Operations Supervisor
(414) 955-2696 | pjacobs@mcw.edu

Sara Griffin
IRB Manager, Minimal Risk Research
(414) 955-4196 | sgriffin@mcw.edu
IRB Committee & Coordinator Oversight: Committee #5 & #7

Timothy Schafer
IRB Manager, Greater Than Minimal Risk Research
(414) 955-8362 | tschafer@mcw.edu
IRB Committee & Coordinator Oversight: Committee #1, #2, #3, #4, #6, #8

Beth McDonough, JD
Inter-Institutional Liaison
(414) 955-4585 | emcdonough@mcw.edu
IRB Deferral Agreements; Inter-Institutional Agreements; Central and Single IRB requests

MCW IRB Coordinators

Greater Than Minimal Risk Committees:

Committee #1:

Shanti Kozuch
(414) 955-8518 | skozuch@mcw.edu

Committee #2:

Lauren Torres
(414) 955-2602 | lmtorres@mcw.edu

Committee #3

Ashley Zellhoefer
(414) 955-8455 | azellhoefer@mcw.edu

Committee #4

Melissa Lechner
(414) 955-8505 | mlechner@mcw.edu

Committee #6

Scott Brooks
(414) 955-8542 | sbrooks@mcw.edu

Committee #8

Katelynn McShane
(414) 955-8453 | kmcshane@mcw.edu

Jacob Croal
(414) 955-8576 | jcroal@mcw.edu

Minimal Risk Committees:

Committee #5:

Vanessa Diaquino
(414) 955-8348 | vdiaquino@mcw.edu

Taylor Kazmierski
(414) 955-8524 | tkazmierski@mcw.edu

Anakaren Manriquez Prado
(414) 955-8572 | amanriquez@mcw.edu

Chris Koceja
(414) 955-2603 | ckoceja@mcw.edu

Committee #7

Stephanie Bensman
(414) 955-2134 | sbensman@mcw.edu

Denise Gergetz
(414) 955-4271 | dgergetz@mcw.edu

Maria Pigsley
(414) 955-4287 | mpigsley@mcw.edu

Shaun Sullivan Schmitt
(414) 955-8340 | ssullivansch@mcw.edu

Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Program

Mala Bobade
(414) 955-8447 | mbobade@mcw.edu
Routine Reviews, For-Cause Audits; Requested Reviews; Consent Observations

Kathy Lee-Hang
(414) 955-4687 | kleehang@mcw.edu
Routine Reviews, For-Cause Audits; Requested Reviews; Consent Observations

Contact the HRPP Office

Grace Robinson
IRB Administrative Support Specialist
(414) 955-8422 | grrobinson@mcw.edu

Review the MCW HRPP Organizational Chart (PDF) for an overview of the office.

For general questions, feel free to email the IRB Office.