What is a primary responsibility of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) in research ethics?

• A. They fund the study and decide publication outlets.
• B. They design experiments and collect data.
• C. They provide training for researchers.
• D. They review proposals to ensure risk is minimized, informed consent is adequate, and participant protections are in place.

Answer: (D)

The primary function of an Institutional Review Board is to protect research participants by carefully reviewing studies before they begin. They assess whether the potential risks to participants are minimized and reasonable in relation to any anticipated benefits, ensure that informed consent will be obtained in a clear and appropriate way, and verify that safeguards are in place to protect participants’ rights and welfare. This includes considering privacy and confidentiality, fair selection of subjects (with extra protections for vulnerable groups), and plans for monitoring for adverse events. The IRB may require changes to consent forms, recruitment materials, or study procedures to strengthen protections, and they provide ongoing oversight as needed.

Funding decisions, study design, data collection, and researcher training fall outside the IRB’s remit, so they aren’t what the board is responsible for.