Institutional Review Boards

An Institutional Review Board, or IRB, is a group that reviews and monitors biomedical research involving human subjects. An IRB's main function is to protect the rights and the welfare of human subjects who participate in research. As such, under Federal Regulations, research projects involving human subjects must be reviewed by an IRB.

IRB can be found in large institutions that are involved in research, such as universities and academic medical centers. There also are for-profit IRBs, which may regulate multi-site studies or work with institutions that do not have internal IRBs. To find all currently registered IRBs, visit the Office for Human Research Protections Database.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' IRB Fact Sheet covers:

• Steps for determining whether your project requires IRB approval
• How informed consent relates to IRB review
• The IRB review process
• Types of IRB reviews
• Additional references

Download the Fact Sheet