The ethical and legal codes that govern medical practice also apply to research. In addition, most clinical research is federally regulated with built in safeguards to protect the participants. All studies follow a carefully controlled protocol, which is a study plan that details what researchers will do in the study. As a study progresses, researchers report the results at scientific meetings, to medical journals, and to other government agencies. Individual participants' names will remain confidential and will not be mentioned in these reports. Every research study at Mayo Clinic must be approved and monitored by Mayo's Institutional Review Board (IRB) to make sure the risks are as low as possible and are worth any potential benefits.