What does the acronym IRB stand for?

The acronym IRB stands for Institutional Review Board. This term refers to a formally established committee that is designated to review and monitor biomedical research involving human subjects. The primary responsibility of the IRB is to ensure that ethical standards are maintained in research studies and that the rights and welfare of participants are protected. IRBs are tasked with reviewing research proposals to ensure that they comply with federal regulations and institutional policies, assessing risks and benefits associated with the research, and ensuring informed consent processes are adequately addressed.

In the context of research ethics and human subjects protection, an IRB plays a critical role in upholding ethical standards and promoting responsible research practices. This includes evaluating the adequacy of the research design, potential risks to participants, the qualifications of the research team, and the steps taken to protect participants' confidentiality.

Other options, such as the "Institutional Research Bureau," "Independent Review Board," and "Interdisciplinary Research Body," do not accurately reflect the established terminology used in the context of ethics review in research involving human subjects.