1. A committee of physicians, statisticians, community advocates and others that ensures that a
clinical trial is ethical and that the rights of study participants are protected. All
clinical trials in the United States must be approved by an
IRB before they begin. See also
Clinical Trial. 2. Every institution that conducts or supports biomedical or behavioral research involving human subjects must, by federal regulation, have an
IRB that initially approves and periodically reviews the research so as to protect the rights of human subjects.