What is the likely action of the IRB regarding a study on Bill Gates that involves personal histories?

The likely action of the IRB, or Institutional Review Board, regarding a study that involves personal histories of an individual like Bill Gates, is that it may not review the study because it does not involve human subjects under the applicable regulations. When a study is centered around publicly available information or does not involve direct interaction with the individual being studied, it may fall outside the IRB's jurisdiction.

In the case of a public figure such as Bill Gates, if the research is limited to analyzing publicly available information or employs historical data where there is no risk to an individual's privacy or confidentiality, the IRB may determine that the research does not require review. This means that the study does not present ethical concerns that necessitate oversight, thus allowing it to proceed without further evaluation or restrictions imposed by the IRB.

This understanding is critical for researchers as it highlights the distinction between studies involving private data and those that rely on publicly accessible information.