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

The primary purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects. This responsibility is fundamental because research involving human participants poses ethical considerations and potential risks that must be carefully managed. The IRB serves to ensure that any study involving human subjects is conducted ethically, which includes reviewing study protocols to confirm that participants are fully informed about the research, understand any risks involved, and provide appropriate consent.

By focusing on the protection of participants, the IRB plays a critical role in upholding ethical standards in research. It ensures researchers adhere to guidelines that prioritize the safety and rights of individuals involved in studies, fostering trust in the research process and the institutions conducting them. This role is essential in the broader context of ethical research practices, reinforcing the need for accountability and transparency in scientific inquiry involving human subjects.

The other choices, while related to aspects of research administration or support, do not encapsulate the core mission of the IRB as related to the ethical oversight of human participant research.