To achieve this goal, the IRB has the authority to review, approve, modify or disapprove research protocols submitted by investigators. The IRB will assist the investigators in designing their research projects in a manner to minimize potential harm to human subjects, review all planned research involving human subjects prior to initiation of the research, approve research that meets established criteria for protection of human subjects, and monitor approved research to ascertain that human subjects are indeed protected. The IRB review process is guided by ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report (1979) and legal mandates outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 45 Part 46 (1994).