What is the main function of an institutional review board (IRB)?

• A. To protect the rights of human subjects participating in research
• B. To interview potential candidates for clinical research trials
• C. To determine which arm of a clinical trial a patient should be placed
• D. To gain additional information about the drug being tested

Answer: (A)

Protecting the rights and welfare of people participating in research is the central role of an IRB. It reviews study plans to ensure risks are minimized relative to expected benefits, that informed consent is clear and voluntary, and that participants are selected fairly, with extra protections for vulnerable groups. The IRB also oversees ongoing safety during the trial and protects privacy and confidentiality, providing continuing review and approvals for any study changes. The other tasks—screening potential participants, deciding which treatment arm a patient gets, or gathering drug information—are handled by the research team or sponsors, not by the IRB.