Final answer:
Access to ethics committees like IACUC and IRB can be requested by stakeholders within a research institution, ensuring ethical compliance in research involving animal and human subjects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Access to an ethics committee such as an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or an Institutional Review Board (IRB) can be requested by various stakeholders within a research institution. The IACUC, which includes researchers, administrators, a veterinarian, and at least one concerned citizen, ensures compliance with National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines for facilities using animals in research that receive federal funding. Similarly, the IRB, often composed of institution's administration, scientists, and community members, reviews research proposals involving human participants to protect their safety and uphold ethical standards.
Any research facility or institution receiving federal support and engaging in such research is required to have access to these oversight committees. Key responsibilities include minimizing risks to participants, ensuring informed consent, and maintaining confidentiality where applicable. These committees are crucial to ethical research, and they review and approve proposals before any studies can proceed.