Bringing the IRB into the Community: A New Framework for the Ethical Regulation of CBPR

Abstract

The conduct of institutional review boards (IRB) in ensuring ethical protocol is followed has been debated and evaluated for a number of years. The IRB decision-making process utilizes a number of regulations in order to protect human subjects in research purposes. Many critics of the system argue that the strict guidelines make it increasingly difficult to retrieve beneficial results and conduct the experiment as initially planned. However, others believe that the standardization involved with the IRB processes makes research practice safer, more transparent, and more effective. Our paper critiques the ethical component of IRB research and its effects on inhibiting or promoting public health practice. In particular, we will address whether current IRB guidelines constrain communitybased participatory research.