What is the role of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

The role of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) is specifically to review and approve research involving human subjects to ensure that ethical standards are upheld. The primary function of the IRB is to protect the rights and welfare of participants in research studies. This includes assessing various aspects of the proposed research, such as informed consent processes, potential risks to participants, and the overall ethical implications of the study. By ensuring that ethical guidelines are followed, the IRB helps to maintain integrity in research practices and protects vulnerable populations, particularly in sensitive areas such as studies involving prisoners.

The other options do not accurately represent the function of an IRB. Funding research projects, conducting research on behalf of investigators, or determining the statistical validity of findings are not within the primary purview of an IRB. Their focus is solely on the ethical review and oversight of research involving human subjects.