ORWH Releases “Progress Report” on Sex as a Biological Variable Policy

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The Journal of Women’s Health recently published “ Sex as a Biological Variable: A 5-Year Progress Report and Call to Action ,” an article commenting on the development and implementation of NIH’s SABV policy, which went into effect in January 2016. This policy articulates the expectation that all applicants for NIH funding for studies in vertebrate animals and humans will factor SABV into research designs, analyses, and reporting (or provide strong scientific justification for single-sex investigations).

The Journal of Women’s Health article—written by Matthew E. Arnegard, Ph.D., Health Scientist Administrator; Lori A. Whitten, Ph.D., Senior Science Writer; Chyren Hunter, Ph.D., ORWH Associate Director for Basic and Translational Research; and Janine A. Clayton, M.D., ORWH Director—describes:

• The development and history of the SABV policy
• The efforts by NIH and others to implement the policy and promote the integration of SABV into research through online educational resources , SABV-relevant funding opportunities , work of the Trans-NIH SABV Working Group , and other means
• The scientific literature relevant to SABV
• The ways that SABV can serve as a guiding principle to improve all biomedical and behavioral disciplines

The article also discusses lessons learned to date and exhorts the scientific community and other stakeholders to integrate the consideration of SABV into all aspects of the biomedical research enterprise, from basic and preclinical research to the delivery of personalized medicine and improved health care for everyone.

You can read an abstract of the article here .