An ethics committee must review clinical research studies before they begin.  In addition the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), a department of the US government, set requirements for drug testing.  They also review the results from certain clinical research studies to decide if an investigational drug should be made available to the general public.

            An ethics group that reviews a clinical research study is called an IRB (Institutional Review Board).  The IRB is a group of doctors, nurses, and people from the community.  The IRB’s job is to review all clinical research studies to help protect participants’ rights and safety.