What does IRB stand for in research regulations?

The term IRB stands for Institutional Review Board. An Institutional Review Board is a committee established to review and approve research involving human subjects to ensure that their rights and welfare are adequately protected. IRBs play a critical role in the ethical oversight of research, evaluating the potential risks and benefits of studies, ensuring informed consent, and adherence to ethical standards and regulations.

Correctly identifying IRB as the Institutional Review Board is essential because this designation highlights its specific purpose within academic and research institutions to safeguard participant welfare. Other options such as "Institutional Research Board," "Independent Research Bureau," and "Intervention Research Board," do not accurately reflect the function or nomenclature associated with these boards, which are primarily focused on ethical oversight rather than purely research or intervention-focused tasks. Understanding the role of the IRB is fundamental for researchers to navigate compliance and ethical considerations effectively.