Institutional Review Board (IRB): An institutional review board (IRB), also known as an
independent ethics committee (IEC), ethical review board
(ERB), or research ethics board (REB), is a type of committee
that applies research ethics by reviewing the methods proposed
for research to ensure that they are ethical. Such boards are
formally designated to approve (or reject), 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 conducted. The
purpose of the IRB is to assure that appropriate steps are taken
to protect the rights and welfare of humans participating as
subjects in a research study.