What is the primary role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

• A. To fund and publish research
• B. To review proposals, protect human subjects, ensure informed consent, evaluate risks and benefits, and monitor privacy
• C. To recruit participants
• D. To administer clinical care

Answer: (B)

Understanding what an IRB does centers on protecting people who participate in research. The primary role is to review study proposals before they begin to ensure that risks to participants are minimized, that the potential benefits justify those risks, that informed consent is obtained and understood, and that privacy and confidentiality are safeguarded. The IRB also provides ongoing oversight, evaluating any changes to the protocol, monitoring adverse events, and ensuring that the risk–benefit balance remains acceptable throughout the study. It may also check that subject selection is fair and that protections are in place for vulnerable populations. This set of duties is distinct from funding, publishing results, recruiting participants, or providing clinical care, which fall to sponsors, investigators, or healthcare teams.