Which statement describes the REB's status with respect to the institution and its decisions?

• A. The REB is independent in decisions on research proposals, but accountable to the institution for operations.
• B. The REB is fully independent in all aspects.
• C. The REB is entirely under government control.
• D. The REB decisions require sponsor approval.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the Research Ethics Board (REB) holds its own authority to judge the ethics of research proposals, but operates within and is accountable to the institution that established it. This means the REB can independently decide whether a study meets ethical standards—assessing risks, benefits, consent processes, privacy, and participant protections—without being told by researchers or sponsors how to decide. Yet the REB isn’t autonomous in every respect: it is part of the institution, bound by institutional policies, procedures, and governance, and the institution is responsible for its operations and compliance. It isn’t governed by government on a day-to-day basis, and sponsor approvals aren’t required for the REB’s ethical determinations.