Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB)
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Synonym(s)
Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC)
A committee of clinical research experts, such as physicians and statisticians, and patient advocates who monitor the progress of a clinical trial and review safety and effectiveness data while the trial is ongoing. This committee is independent of the people, organizations, and institutions conducting the clinical trial. Data and Safety Monitoring Boards (DSMBs) can recommend that a trial be stopped early because of concerns about participant safety or because the main research question has been answered.