Research Irb Trial Review Members People Scientists Determine

An "institutional review board" (IRB) is a "committee" (a group of people working together for a particular purpose, usually by having many meetings) that "approves" (says something is okay) and "monitors" (observes) research that involves people. Scientists present their research projects to an IRB, whose members then ask whatever questions are necessary before deciding whether the research is approved and the scientist can "proceed" (continue; move forward). The IRB may "modify" (change) the scientist's proposed research to make it safer.

IRBs analyze the researchers' goals and determine whether the "potential" (possible; referring to what might happen) "benefits" (has advantages or good affects) "outweigh" (are greater than, are more important than) the potential "risks" (bad things that might happen). The IRB members focus not only on the potential physical and mental results for the trial participants, but also on "ethical issues" (questions of what is good or bad, right or wrong).

The IRBs are "instructed" (told) to "safeguard" (protect) the rights of the "trial subjects" (the people being studied in an experiment). They are supposed to pay special attention to highly "vulnerable" (easily hurt) populations, like children and pregnant women. The IRB also considers the amount of any "compensation" (money paid for a service) provided to the trial participants.

Once a research project has been approved, the IRB must review it at least once per year. If the IRB members determine that the situation has changed and the risks now outweigh the benefits, they can tell the scientists to modify or "terminate" (stop) the trials.