Which statement is true regarding the relationship between an institution and its IRB?

The statement regarding the officials' ability to revoke an IRB's decision accurately reflects the relationship between an institution and its Institutional Review Board (IRB). While an IRB is responsible for overseeing the ethical aspects of research involving human subjects, the institution ultimately holds the authority over the research activities it sponsors. This means that institutional officials can intervene in the IRB's decisions based on the institution's policies, mission, and ethical standards.

In practice, if an IRB grants approval for a study but the institution finds concerns about the research, officials can choose to deny the continuation of that study or halt it entirely, reflecting the institution’s oversight responsibility in research compliance. This capacity for institutional officials to revoke an IRB's decision ensures that there is a system of checks and balances that not only upholds ethical standards but also aligns with the institution’s values and guidelines regarding research.