What role do IRBs play in the context of research involving human subjects?

IRBs, or Institutional Review Boards, are established to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research. Their primary function is to review research proposals to ensure that ethical considerations are thoroughly addressed and that the research complies with regulatory standards. This includes evaluating the potential risks to participants, ensuring informed consent processes are in place, and assessing whether the benefits of the research outweigh the risks. By doing so, IRBs play a critical role in upholding ethical standards in research, fostering public trust, and promoting the safe conduct of studies that involve human participants. They are not involved in promoting specific research agendas, assisting with data analysis, or setting budgets, as their focus is solely on participant welfare and regulatory compliance.