What is the primary responsibility of oversight bodies like an IRB or IACUC?

The primary responsibility of oversight bodies such as an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is indeed to determine compliance with regulatory requirements, including the protection of research subjects. These bodies are established to ensure that research involving human subjects or animals is conducted ethically and in accordance with established guidelines and legal regulations.

For human subjects, IRBs evaluate research proposals to protect participants from risks, ensure informed consent is obtained, and verify that the benefits of the research outweigh the potential harms. For research involving animals, IACUCs focus on ensuring humane treatment, proper care, and the ethical justification of research protocols involving animals.

Oversight is critical to maintaining the integrity of research and safeguarding the welfare of participants, which is foundational in upholding public trust in scientific inquiry.