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

• A. Conduct experiments
• B. Review, approve, and monitor research
• C. Publish results
• D. Recruit participants

Answer: (B)

An Institutional Review Board exists to safeguard people who participate in research. Its main job is to review proposed studies to ensure ethical treatment, assess risks and benefits, and confirm that informed consent will be obtained and respected. After initial approval, the IRB continues to monitor the study to make sure participants are protected and that any adverse events or changes to the protocol are handled appropriately. This oversight aligns with regulatory requirements and ethical principles such as respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. The other tasks listed—conducting experiments, publishing results, or recruiting participants—are carried out by researchers, journals, or study teams, not by the IRB. Therefore, the description that captures the IRB’s purpose most accurately is to review, approve, and monitor research to protect human subjects.