What role do Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) play according to the Belmont Report?

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) serve a critical function in ensuring the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects, as outlined in the Belmont Report. Their primary role is to provide ethical oversight by reviewing research proposals to ensure that they adhere to principles such as respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

By evaluating potential risks and benefits, IRBs help to protect the rights and welfare of participants. This includes assessing informed consent processes, evaluating the scientific merit of the proposed research, and ensuring that risks are minimized while benefits are maximized. The involvement of IRBs is essential in fostering trust and accountability within the research community and ensuring compliance with ethical standards.

Options that suggest IRBs are involved in funding decisions, manage participant recruitment methods, or conduct research themselves do not accurately capture their defining role. While they may consider aspects of recruitment in their reviews, they do not manage these processes directly, nor do they have a role in research funding or execution. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes their primary responsibility for ethical oversight and thorough review of research proposals.