What type of review does an IRB conduct involving human subjects?

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) conducts an initial and ongoing review for ethical considerations regarding research involving human subjects. This type of review is essential to ensure that the rights, welfare, and privacy of participants are protected throughout the research process.

The initial review helps to determine whether the proposed research is ethically sound, assessing factors such as informed consent, risks to participants, and the overall benefit of the research. The ongoing review aspect allows the IRB to monitor the study as it progresses, ensuring that it continues to meet ethical standards and that any new findings or changes to the study protocols are addressed appropriately. This ongoing oversight is critical to maintaining trust in the research process and ensuring the safety of human subjects.

Although the other options touch on important aspects of research, they do not accurately reflect the primary responsibility of an IRB, which is focused on ethical considerations rather than financial or purely scientific aspects.