SORS/WomenInBSC: The role of sex and gender in (bio) medical research

Abstract

When we talk about sex- and gender-sensitive research, most researchers assume it is sufficient to report how many men and women have participated in a study. While this is an important first step, sexand gender-sensitive research means much more. In this seminar I will first focus on sex-sensitive research. I will point out why this needs to be considered at every step of the research process and where potential pitfalls lie. What could possibly go wrong if it is not done? Then, we will move on to gender-sensitive research and discuss which approaches are currently being developed, where to find resources and how to apply them to your work. Although many of these variants are globally rare, some are enriched in specific populations, with important implications for patient stratification, therapy design and clinical decision-making.