What does IRB stand for in research ethics?

• A. International Review Board
• B. Institutional Review Board
• C. Independent Research Board
• D. Integrated Review Bureau

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that IRB is a specific oversight committee that protects people in research. An Institutional Review Board is attached to a particular institution, like a university or hospital, and its job is to review research plans that involve human subjects before the study starts. It looks at whether the risks to participants are reasonable in relation to the potential benefits, whether the informed consent process clearly explains what participation involves, and whether privacy and confidentiality are safeguarded. It also checks that special populations (such as children or prisoners) are protected and that the study has enough safeguards to minimize harm. If the protocol doesn’t meet ethical or regulatory standards, the IRB requires changes or, in some cases, will not approve the study until concerns are addressed. This body exists to ensure that research is conducted ethically and that participants’ rights and welfare are protected throughout the study.

The term “Institutional Review Board” is the standard, widely used formulation. The other options don’t fit because they describe different scopes or unofficial-sounding bodies rather than the established committee tied to a specific institution that reviews and approves human-subject research.