Which committee is responsible for reviewing proposals involving human participants?

The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is tasked with reviewing proposals involving human participants to ensure that the rights, safety, and well-being of individuals are protected in research settings. The HREC's primary focus is to assess the ethical implications of a study, addressing considerations such as informed consent, risk versus benefit analysis, and the overall appropriateness of the research design involving human subjects. This committee operates under strict guidelines and regulations to foster ethical research practices, helping to maintain public trust in medical and psychological studies.

In contrast, the International Ethics Committee typically focuses on broader ethical standards and practices on a global scale, rather than conducting reviews specific to individual research proposals. The Clinical Trials Advisory Board often provides guidance on the conduct and management of clinical trials but does not usually perform the ethical review function granted to HRECs. The Nuremberg Review Board is not a current institutional body but rather a historic reference to the ethical standards that emerged after World War II, which led to the formalization of research ethics but is not involved in the review of specific research proposals today. Thus, the HREC stands out as the dedicated entity for the ethical oversight of research involving human participants.