A whole sector approach to policy change will accelerate integration of sex and gender in research

Sex and gender profoundly affect health and disease, including the causes of ill health, the effectiveness of treatment, and individuals’ overall outcomes. Yet sex and gender dimensions have historically been neglected in the majority of biomedical, health, and care research, and this problem persists today. A 2019 review found that only 49% of animal studies reported using both male and female mice,1 and in 2018 just 22% of participants in phase 1 clinical trials were female.2 Reporting and analysis of sex and gender disaggregated data are also inadequate.3 These gaps in the evidence base lead to less targeted, effective, and safe care for everyone, but particularly for cis women and girls, and sex and gender diverse people.4 Whole sector change is needed to tackle these critical gaps and should be leveraged through policy change across the UK’s funding landscape.5On 11 December 2023, 29 members of the UK research sector published…
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