Final answer:
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) ensures additional protections for prospective research subjects. These protections include minimizing risks, obtaining informed consent, and upholding participant privacy. Approval from the IRB is required before conducting the research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prior to approving emergency research, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) must ensure that additional protections are in place regarding the rights and welfare of prospective subjects. The IRB is a committee that reviews research proposals involving human participants and ensures that the research is conducted ethically and with respect for human dignity and safety. This includes minimizing risks to participants, obtaining informed consent, protecting participant privacy and confidentiality, and seeking overall approval from the IRB before conducting the research.