What aspect of research does the ongoing monitoring by the IRB focus on?

The ongoing monitoring by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) primarily focuses on ethical standards and compliance. This involves ensuring that research involving human participants adheres to established ethical guidelines and regulatory requirements. The IRB is responsible for safeguarding the rights and welfare of participants, which includes reviewing protocols and ongoing studies to ensure they minimize risks and remain ethically sound throughout their duration.

This focus on ethical standards is crucial as it helps to maintain the integrity of the research process and builds public trust in research activities. Monitoring compliance means that the IRB can ensure that researchers uphold the ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice, which are fundamental to conducting ethical research.

In contrast, adjusting the research budget, conducting staff performance reviews, and marketing research outcomes, although important aspects of research administration, do not fall within the primary purview of the IRB's ongoing monitoring activities. These aspects are generally managed by different administrative or organizational bodies within the research institution.