What defines the role of an institution's IRB?

The primary role of an institution's Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to ensure the ethical review of research protocols. This involves reviewing research proposals before they are conducted to ensure that the rights and welfare of the participants are protected. The IRB assesses whether the potential benefits of the research outweigh any risks involved and ensures that informed consent is obtained from all participants. This is a critical function, as it upholds ethical standards in research and maintains public trust in the research process.

In contrast, while collecting data for research purposes, approving only high-risk research, and designing research methodology can be parts of the broader research process, they do not define the core responsibilities of the IRB itself. The IRB does not directly engage in data collection or design research methodologies; its focus is rather on the ethical implications of the proposed research and safeguarding participant safety. This clear mandate distinguishes the IRB's role from other aspects of research activities.