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Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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Institutional Review Board  listen  (IN-stih-TOO-shuh-nul reh-VYOO bord)

  A group of scientists, doctors, clergy, and patient advocates that reviews and approves the detailed plan for every clinical trial. Institutional Review Boards are meant to protect the people who take part in a clinical trial. They check to see that the trial is well designed, legal, ethical, does not involve unneeded risks, and includes a safety plan for patients. There is an Institutional Review Board at every health care facility that does clinical research. Also called IRB.