what are irbs
The International Council on Harmonisation (ICH) defines an institutional review board (IRB) as a group formally designated to protect the rights, safety and well-being of humans involved in a clinical trial by reviewing all aspects of the trial and approving its startup. IRBs can also be called independent ethics committees (IECs). An IRB/IEC reviews the appropriateness of the clinical trial protocol as well as the risks and benefits to study participants. It ensures that clinical trial participants are exposed to minimal risks in relation to any benefits that might result from the research.