Institutional Review Board (IRB)

• Any board, committee, or other group formally designated by an institution to review, to approve the initiation of, and to conduct periodic review of, biomedical research involving human subjects. The primary purpose of such review is to assure the protection of the rights and welfare of the human subjects. The term has the same meaning as the phrase institutional review committee as used in section 520 (g) of the act. (FDA)
• A specially constituted review body established or designated by an institution to protect the welfare of human subjects recruited to participate in biomedical or behavioral research (OHRP)