What is the primary purpose of the IRB in human subjects research?

The primary purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in human subjects research is to oversee the ethical treatment of research participants. The IRB is tasked with protecting the rights, welfare, and privacy of individuals involved in research studies. It reviews research proposals to ensure that ethical standards are met, potential risks to participants are minimized, and informed consent processes are properly implemented. The emphasis is on safeguarding participants against harm and ensuring that their participation is voluntary and informed, which are fundamental ethical principles in research.

Regarding the other options, while ensuring compliance with funding requirements and reviewing research proposals may be part of an IRB's functions, they do not capture the core responsibility of the IRB, which is ethical oversight. The IRB does not provide funding for research projects, nor does it inherently approve all research before submission to funding bodies; rather, it focuses specifically on the ethical aspects of the proposed human subjects research.