What is the primary purpose of the Common Rule?

The primary purpose of the Common Rule is to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects participating in research. This regulation establishes ethical principles and guidelines that research institutions and investigators must follow to ensure that human subjects are treated with respect and that their rights are safeguarded throughout the research process. Key elements include obtaining informed consent, ensuring that risks are minimized, and providing oversight through Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to review research proposals. By focusing on the protection of human subjects, the Common Rule aims to promote ethical research practices and foster public trust in the research process.

In contrast, the other options are narrower in scope or unrelated to the overarching goal of the Common Rule, which encompasses all aspects of human subject protection. The Common Rule is not limited to medical research only; it applies to various types of research involving human subjects across different fields. Additionally, facilitating faster approval is not a primary objective; in fact, the emphasis is on thorough review and ethical considerations, which can sometimes lengthen the approval process. Lastly, the regulation does not have the purpose of limiting research funding; instead, it balances the need for research with the ethical obligation to protect human subjects.