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Institutional Review Boards

Meaning

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are formally constituted, independent committees mandated to meticulously review, approve, and continuously monitor biomedical and behavioral research studies that involve human participants. The central and non-negotiable mission of an IRB is to ensure the comprehensive protection of the rights, welfare, and overall safety of all human subjects throughout the entire research lifecycle. In endocrinology, IRBs are indispensable for the ethical oversight of clinical trials involving novel hormone therapies and endocrine interventions.