Studies involving research with human subjects require Institutional Review Board (IRB) review because these studies pose ethical considerations and potential risks to participants that must be evaluated before research activities can commence. The IRB is responsible for ensuring that the rights, welfare, and dignity of participants are protected. This includes assessing informed consent processes, the study's potential benefits versus risks, and ensuring that participant confidentiality is maintained.
Human subjects research encompasses a wide range of studies—clinical trials, surveys, interviews, and observational studies—where individuals are part of the research process. As such, oversight by the IRB is essential to uphold ethical standards and regulatory compliance.
In contrast, while studies utilizing animal subjects and those involving physical fitness assessments may also require oversight, they follow different review processes or institutions than those established for human subjects. Additionally, not all studies funded by government grants necessitate IRB review, especially if they do not involve human subjects. Thus, the requirement specific to human subjects research is what makes this answer the correct choice.