The sting operation revealed what the GAO called a vulnerability to “unethical manipulation” in the IRB system. He thinks creating a system of independent nonprofit IRBs is a step toward more ethical research oversight. To him and Seymour, North Star could lead the way for that change. To her and Rosenfeld, North Star felt like an opportunity to do things differently. Rosenfeld said that he felt the nonprofit status of North Star was a step toward a more ethical system.