What is the primary purpose of institutional review boards in research?

What is the primary purpose of institutional review boards in research?

• A. A panel that reviews and monitors research involving animal subjects to ensure humane treatment.
• B. A group that decides which studies receive funding.
• C. A body that enforces institutional policies on campus safety.
• D. A committee that reviews and monitors research involving human participants to ensure it is ethical.

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is protecting people who participate in research. An institutional review board exists to review and monitor research involving human participants to ensure it is ethical. This includes ensuring informed consent is obtained, assessing risks and benefits, protecting privacy and confidentiality, and ongoing oversight of studies to safeguard participants’ rights and welfare. The other statements describe roles that belong to different bodies: review of animal subjects is handled by an animal care and use committee, not the IRB; decisions about funding come from funding agencies or sponsors; and enforcing campus safety policies is the job of a safety or compliance office.

The main idea here is protecting people who participate in research. An institutional review board exists to review and monitor research involving human participants to ensure it is ethical. This includes ensuring informed consent is obtained, assessing risks and benefits, protecting privacy and confidentiality, and ongoing oversight of studies to safeguard participants’ rights and welfare.

The other statements describe roles that belong to different bodies: review of animal subjects is handled by an animal care and use committee, not the IRB; decisions about funding come from funding agencies or sponsors; and enforcing campus safety policies is the job of a safety or compliance office.