AI Adoption in IRB Processes: Exploring Views of IRB Professionals

An integral part of the United States’ research enterprise, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) play a crucial role in upholding the rights and welfare of human participants in research. However, concerns about the effectiveness and efficiency of IRB operations have been raised. Criticisms include inconsistent and time-consuming reviews, opaque decision-making, and erroneous determinations, leading to gaps in research oversight. The emergence of generative AI technology, such as ChatGPT, offers a potential opportunity to improve current IRB processes. Our study aims to explore the attitudes of IRB professionals toward AI tools and their potential integration into IRB processes, as well as to identify the factors influencing these attitudes. Additionally, we seek to investigate the main barriers to incorporating AI tools into IRB processes and how AI tools could be optimally utilized to address concerns raised by researchers.