Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Definition

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee established to review and oversee research involving human subjects, ensuring that ethical standards are met and participants' rights are protected. IRBs play a critical role in maintaining ethical integrity in research by evaluating study proposals, informed consent processes, and potential risks to participants, ensuring that the research adheres to established ethical guidelines.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. IRBs are required by federal regulations for all research involving human subjects funded by the government, ensuring oversight and compliance with ethical standards.
2. The composition of an IRB typically includes members with diverse backgrounds, including scientists, non-scientists, and community representatives to provide a broad perspective on ethical issues.
3. IRBs assess the risk-benefit ratio of research studies, ensuring that potential benefits justify any risks faced by participants.
4. Research studies must receive IRB approval before they can commence; failure to do so can lead to serious ethical violations and consequences for researchers.
5. IRBs also monitor ongoing studies to ensure that they continue to comply with ethical standards throughout the research process.

Review Questions

• How does an IRB ensure the ethical treatment of human subjects in research?
  • An IRB ensures the ethical treatment of human subjects by reviewing research proposals to assess risks and benefits, requiring informed consent processes, and verifying that participants' rights are protected. The board evaluates whether the study design minimizes risks and maximizes potential benefits while also ensuring that participants are fully informed about the study's nature and any possible effects on them. This thorough review process helps maintain high ethical standards in research practices.
• Discuss the role of informed consent in the IRB review process and its importance in protecting participants.
  • Informed consent is a crucial component of the IRB review process as it ensures that participants have all the necessary information regarding the study before agreeing to participate. The IRB evaluates how well researchers communicate this information and whether potential risks, benefits, and the right to withdraw from the study are clearly explained. By emphasizing informed consent, IRBs help protect participants' autonomy and decision-making capabilities, ultimately contributing to ethical research practices.
• Evaluate the implications of failing to obtain IRB approval before conducting research involving human subjects.
  • Failing to obtain IRB approval before conducting research can have severe implications for both researchers and participants. Without proper oversight, studies may expose participants to unrecognized risks or violate their rights, leading to ethical breaches that can harm individuals involved. Additionally, researchers face potential disciplinary actions, loss of funding, and damage to their professional reputation. Such failures undermine public trust in research practices and can result in broader consequences for scientific integrity as a whole.

Related terms

Informed Consent: The process through which researchers provide potential participants with all necessary information about a study, allowing them to make an educated decision about their participation.

Ethics Review: A systematic evaluation of a research proposal by an ethics committee or IRB to ensure compliance with ethical standards and protection of participants.

Confidentiality: The obligation of researchers to protect the privacy of participants by safeguarding personal information collected during a study.