Which of the following statements about the relationship between an institution and the institution's IRB(s) is correct?

The correct statement regarding the relationship between an institution and its Institutional Review Board (IRB) is that officials of the institution may overrule an IRB approval. This reflects the reality that while IRBs are charged with protecting the welfare of research participants by reviewing and approving research protocols, the authority to ultimately approve or disapprove a study lies with the institution.

In practice, institutional officials have the power to make decisions based on broader considerations such as institutional policies, resource availability, and reputational risk, which may lead them to reverse an IRB's approval. This oversight ensures that research aligns with the institution's mission and values, even if the IRB deems a study ethical.

The other statements do not accurately reflect the dynamics between an institution and its IRB. IRB decisions, while important, are not immune to institutional review; initiatives from the IRB can be influenced or altered by institutional priorities. Furthermore, the notion that only the IRB can initiate changes to study proposals is misleading, as principal investigators can also propose changes, and those changes may subsequently be reviewed by the IRB. Finally, the assertion that institutional officials have no say in IRB decisions is incorrect, as it overlooks their ability to review and potentially overrule the IR