Biomedical research on humans is an important part of medical progress. But, when health and lives are at risk, safety and ethical practices need to be the top priority. The need for the committees that regulate and oversee such research--institutional review boards, or IRBs--is growing. Evaluating the Science and Ethics of Research on Humans is a guide for new and veteran members of IRBs that will help them better understand the issues involved and the tasks they will be required to perform.

The most important purpose of an IRB is to protect the human participants in...