When can recruitment of human participants begin in relation to IRB approval?

Recruitment of human participants can only begin after gaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. This requirement ensures that the rights, welfare, and well-being of the participants are protected before any research activities start. The IRB's role is to review the research proposal, assessing its ethical considerations and ensuring compliance with federal regulations and institutional policies.

Starting recruitment before IRB approval could expose participants to potential risks without oversight and violate ethical and regulatory guidelines. Likewise, simultaneous recruitment with the submission process or based solely on the submission of the protocol overlooks the necessary review that the IRB provides, which is crucial for participant safety and ethical integrity in research. Thus, adhering strictly to the requirement that recruitment follows IRB approval is essential for maintaining the ethical standards in human research protection.