Who typically serves on an IRB?

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is composed of individuals who bring a variety of perspectives and expertise to the review process. This diversity is essential because it allows the IRB to effectively evaluate the ethical implications of research proposals involving human subjects. Members typically include professionals from different disciplines, including science, medicine, ethics, law, and sometimes even community representatives who understand the population affected by the research.

Having a broad range of expertise ensures that the IRB can assess the potential risks and benefits of research, provide ethical oversight, and protect the rights and welfare of participants. Furthermore, including community members helps incorporate public perspectives, which can be vital for understanding the societal implications of research and fostering trust in the research process.

The other options would limit the IRB's ability to conduct thorough reviews by excluding necessary viewpoints and expertise. For instance, having only experienced researchers or only legal experts would narrow the focus and potentially overlook ethical considerations from other disciplines. Similarly, only including community members without research backgrounds would lack the professional insight needed to evaluate research rigorously. Hence, the inclusion of individuals with diverse expertise and backgrounds is fundamental to the IRB's function.