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

The primary purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to protect the rights and welfare of clinical research participants. This includes ensuring that participants are treated ethically and have their rights safeguarded throughout the research process. The IRB is responsible for reviewing research protocols, ensuring that informed consent is adequately obtained, and evaluating the potential risks and benefits of the research.

Additionally, the IRB plays a crucial role in guaranteeing that informed consent is properly obtained from participants, which involves providing them with all necessary information about the study in a clear, comprehensive manner. This allows participants to make well-informed decisions regarding their participation.

The IRB also articulates the risks and benefits associated with a study. They assess whether the potential benefits of the research justify any risks to participants, ensuring a balance that protects participants from unnecessary harm.

Given these responsibilities, the correct answer encompasses all aspects: protecting participants' rights and welfare, ensuring informed consent, and analyzing the risks and benefits involved in the research. Therefore, the most comprehensive understanding is that the IRB's primary purpose is to fulfill all these functions collectively.