An Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) is a critical component of the ethical oversight process in clinical research involving human participants. Its primary purpose is to protect the rights, welfare, and well-being of study participants by ensuring that research studies are conducted ethically, following established ethical principles and regulatory guidelines. IRBs/IECs play a crucial role in reviewing, approving, and monitoring research protocols to ensure they meet ethical and regulatory standards.