Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The institutional review board (IRB) is responsible for evaluating and approving research at the institution that involves human subjects. Most universities and larger hospitals have IRBs.  The purpose of the IRB is to ensure that research on human subjects conducted at the institution comply with federal regulations 45 CFR part 46. In doing so, the IRB also ensures that ethics and human rights are also upheld. A foundational document describing ethics in human subject research is the Belmont Report (1979).

The Belmont Report defines these ethical principles as respect for person, beneficence, and justice. Respect for person states that individuals should be treated as autonomous. As such, potential research subjects should be made aware of the true nature of the research and make an informed decision as to whether to participate. Once enrolled, subjects retain the right to quit the study at any time for any reason. It also states that individuals with diminished autonomy should be entitled to additional protections.  As such, coercion or undue influence should not be used as a means of recruitment.The principle of beneficence states that the benefits of the research for the individual or society must outweigh the risks placed on the study participants. Research that fails to meet this criterion should not be approved, and methods that reduce subject risk should be selected. The principle of justice states that those who will receive the benefits of research should also be the ones that take on the burden/risk associated with the research. It is unjust to have one group of people take on the risks for the benefits of another group.

For smaller organizations, commercial Institutional Review Boards exist that will review and approve research proposals for a fee. As with any outsourced activity, care should be taken to ensure the credibility of those conducting the work.