Over the last several decades, advances in biomedical and clinical research have improved the health and well-being of all people. Some of the progress has been aided by the landmark policy set forth by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) two years ago requiring investigators to consider sex as a biological variable. In fact, there is a Resolution in Congress to declare January 25th as National Women’s Health Research Day, thanks to the strong efforts of organizations like the Women’s Health Research Institute at Northwestern University.
Despite this progress, a sex-bias that significantly impacts the advancement of women’s health exists in both preclinical and clinical research. Particularly, on the second anniversary of the NIH policy that requires investigators to consider sex as biological variable (SABV) in preclinical research, reflection on the recent history of women in research is warranted. Read the article on Applied Clinical Trials here.
