Institutional review board

An institutional review board (IRB), also known as an independent ethics committee (IEC), ethical review board (ERB) or research ethics board (REB), is a committee that has been formally designated to approve, monitor, and review biomedical and behavioral research involving humans. They often conduct some form of risk-benefit analysis in an attempt to determine whether or not research should be done.

Scientists have the responsibility of judging what is best for the patient and the optimal conditions for the conduct of a study. All physicians should ensure that research they participate in is ethically conducted. Every clinician should learn and receive training in the responsible conduct of research and publication, and each project must be reviewed by an institutional review board.