What is the primary responsibility of the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

The primary responsibility of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research. This role is essential because research often involves gathering data from individuals, which can pose risks to their privacy, autonomy, and well-being. The IRB ensures that all research proposals involving human subjects adhere to ethical standards and regulatory guidelines before they can begin. This includes evaluating the informed consent process, assessing the risk-benefit ratio of the research, and ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to safeguard participants throughout the study. By prioritizing the protection of participants, the IRB plays a crucial role in maintaining ethical research practices and fostering public trust in the research enterprise.

Other options relate to aspects of research management but do not fulfill the core ethical oversight and protective functions that the IRB is specifically tasked with.