What is the primary role of ethics committees or Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in clinical research?

The primary role of ethics committees or Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in clinical research is to ensure the protection of study participants’ rights, welfare, and safety. This is achieved through a thorough review process that evaluates the ethical considerations of a proposed study, including the informed consent process, risk-benefit analysis, and the overall ethical treatment of participants involved in research.

IRBs are tasked with ensuring that the research adheres to ethical guidelines and regulatory requirements designed to safeguard participants. This includes assessing whether the research procedures are sound, whether the risks to participants are minimized and justified by the potential benefits, and whether participants are fully informed about the nature of the research and their involvement in it. Through these reviews, IRBs help build public trust in the research process and promote ethical standards in scientific investigation, which is of paramount importance in clinical research settings.