Under federal regulations, what is the Institutional Review Board primarily charged with?

Under federal regulations, what is the Institutional Review Board primarily charged with?

• A. Ensuring researchers follow all applicable institutional policies related to research with human subjects.
• B. Reviewing subject recruitment materials and strategies.
• C. Protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects.
• D. Managing the study budget.

Answer: (C)

The central aim of an Institutional Review Board is to safeguard the rights and welfare of people who participate in research. It reviews proposed studies to ensure any risks to participants are minimized and reasonable in relation to potential benefits, that participants are fairly selected, and that informed consent is appropriate, voluntary, and well documented. The IRB also checks that privacy and confidentiality are protected and that ongoing monitoring occurs to protect participants as the research proceeds. While recruitment materials, institutional policies, and budgeting are relevant to how research is conducted, they are not the IRB’s primary mission—the IRB’s core responsibility is ensuring participant protection throughout the research.

The central aim of an Institutional Review Board is to safeguard the rights and welfare of people who participate in research. It reviews proposed studies to ensure any risks to participants are minimized and reasonable in relation to potential benefits, that participants are fairly selected, and that informed consent is appropriate, voluntary, and well documented. The IRB also checks that privacy and confidentiality are protected and that ongoing monitoring occurs to protect participants as the research proceeds. While recruitment materials, institutional policies, and budgeting are relevant to how research is conducted, they are not the IRB’s primary mission—the IRB’s core responsibility is ensuring participant protection throughout the research.