What is the primary function of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)?

The primary function of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) is to review research proposals ensuring the protection of human subjects. This involves evaluating research protocols to confirm that they comply with ethical standards and regulations designed to safeguard participants' rights and well-being. IRBs assess potential risks, informed consent processes, and the overall ethical considerations of proposed studies. Their role is vital in maintaining high ethical standards in research involving human subjects, thereby promoting public trust in the research process and ensuring that research is conducted responsibly.

In contrast, the other options focus on aspects that are not within the core responsibilities of IRBs. For instance, while funding is crucial for research, approving funding does not fall under IRB duties. Conducting experiments is the responsibility of researchers, not IRBs, which are solely evaluative bodies. Lastly, publishing research findings is a separate process typically handled by researchers or journals, rather than by IRBs, which do not engage in the dissemination of research results.