The contribution of sex and gender analysis to research

This brief paper highlights the EU/US Gendered Innovations (GI) Project which aims to develop methods of sex and gender analysis for research. A total of 21 case studies from a broad range of scientific fields offer concrete illustrations of how sex and gender analysis leads to new ideas and excellence in research . Two case studies are described to some extent: stem cell research and an example on the increase in non-communicable diseases from the field of nutrigenomics. The peerreviewed full case studies, including all references can be found at the GI website. In Horizon 2020 “Gender will be addressed as a cross-cutting issue in order to rectify imbalances between women and men, and to integrate a gender dimension in research and innovation programming and content”. Applicants are referred to the GI materials as a resource for those topics flagged for gender relevance.peer-reviewe

Transforming Research Methodologies in EU Life Sciences and Biomedicine

This article describes how methodologies of EU-funded research within the life sciences and biomedicine have recently become more gender sensitive. This transformation is the result of the Gender Impact Assessments of the EU Fifth Framework Programme, commissioned in 2000-1. The authors assessed the research programme for life sciences, which includes a large health-related component. The new guidelines for research emphasize the need for clear terminology for concepts of sex and gender and for a distinction to be made between the two, for both life sciences and health research. Attention to possible sex differences, even in preclinical research, as well as to effects of gender, will lead to more adequate research data that serve the health of both men and women. The transformation to research becoming more gender-sensitive is further discussed in the context of feminist theory on the body. Being fully aware of the fact that what is happening in bodies is mediated by particular technologies, the authors make an appeal to invest in concepts that take the living and changing body into account

Gendered innovation in health and medicine

"'Gendered Innovations' integrates sex and gender analysis into all phases of biomedical and health research to assure excellence and quality in outcomes. This article reports on the interdisciplinary, international collaboration that produced: 1) state-of-the-art methods of sex and gender analysis for health and medicine; and 2) case studies to illustrate how gender analysis leads to discovery in biomedicine and better outcomes in health research: osteoporosis research in men, the genetics of sex determination, heart disease in women, stem cell research, animal research, nutrigenomics and degendering knee implants. The article concludes with a short review of policy at the Canadian, US, and European institutes of health, medical curricula, and policies for peer-reviewed journals in relation to reporting sex/gender analysis in research." (Autorenreferat)"'Gendered Innovations' integriert eine Sex und Genderanalyse in alle Phasen der biomedizinischen und Gesundheitsforschung, um Exzellenz und Qualität auf Ergebnisseite zu sichern. Der Beitrag stellt die interdisziplinären internationalen Kooperationsbemühungen dar, in deren Rahmen sowohl zeitgemäße Methoden der geschlechterfokussierten Analyse im Bereich von Gesundheit und Medizin entwickelt als auch Fallstudien durchgeführt wurden: zur Osteoporoseforschung bei Männern, zu genetischen Faktoren der Geschlechtsbestimmung, Herzerkrankungen bei Frauen, Stammzellenforschung, Tierversuchen, Nutrigenomik und zum 'Degendering' bei Knieimplantaten. Der Beitrag schließt mit einem kurzen Blick auf kanadische, US-amerikanische und europäische Gesundheitsinstitute, medizinische Curricula und den Umgang peer-reviewter Zeitschriften mit Forschungsberichten über Sex-/Genderanalysen" (Autorenreferat

Meta-analysis of gender and science research. Synthesis report

Sección Deptal. de Economía Aplicada, Pública y Política (Políticas)Fac. de Ciencias Políticas y SociologíaTRUEpu

Gender sensitivity among general practitioners: Results of a training programme

Contains fulltext : 70167.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Gender differences contribute to patients' health and illness. However in current healthcare practices attention to gender differences is still underdeveloped. Recognizing these differences and taking them into account can improve the quality of care. In this study we aimed to investigate whether GPs' gender sensitivity can be stimulated by a training programme. The focus was on three diseases: angina pectoris, depression and urinary incontinence. METHODS: This study had a quantitative, explorative and descriptive design. By means of a training programme 18 GPs were trained to focus on gender-sensitive recommendations for the three diseases. With standardised registration forms, data were collected during a 6-month period. During the registration period, the GPs were visited by the study team to discuss the process of data collection. RESULTS: The GPs filled in registration forms for 100 patients: 39 with angina pectoris (31 women and 8 men), 40 with depression (26 women and 14 men), and 21 with urinary incontinence (20 women and 1 man). The results show that gender sensitivity can be stimulated among trained professionals. The combination of the training programme, clear and practical recommendations, daily discussion of relevant cases between the GP couples, feedback and support during registration by the study team probably contributed to the outcome. CONCLUSION: GPs' gender sensitivity was stimulated by the training programme and the supporting visits. Ideally, structural attention could be realised by embedding gender issues in existing organisational structures of general practices

Recommendations for a better understanding of sex and gender in neuroscience of mental health

There are prominent sex/gender differences in the prevalence, expression and lifespan course of mental health and neurodiverse conditions. Yet the underlying sex and gender related mechanisms and their interactions are still not fully understood. This lack of knowledge has harmful consequences for those suffering from mental health problems. Hence, we set up a co-creation session in a one week workshop with a multidisciplinary team of 25 researchers, clinicians and policy makers, to identify the main barriers in sex and gender research in neuroscience of mental health. Based on this work, we here provide recommendations for methodologies, translational research and stakeholder involvement. These include guidelines for recording, reporting, analysis beyond binary groups, and open science. Improved understanding of sex and gender related mechanisms in neuroscience may benefit public health as this is an important step towards precision medicine and may function as an archetype for studying diversity

Scientific Excellence in Applying Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Methods in Biomedical and Health Research

Despite regulations, the attention paid to sex and gender in biomedical and health research is far from optimal. Researchers often recognize the importance of incorporating sex and gender issues in general but fail to see the applicability to their own research. This can have severe consequences and impedes gender equity in healthcare. More hands-on approaches are needed that stimulate scientists to integrate sex and gender aspects into their research. The present work is based on the contents of a workshop developed by the authors that serves as such a hands-on method. It aims at familiarizing a broad range of scientists in the field of biomedical and health research with the basics of conducting sex- and gender-sensitive research. In addition to clarifying concepts, it serves to provide a general introduction to sex- and gender-sensitive methods. To this end, challenges in pitfalls conducting sex- and gender-sensitive research, originally identified in the social sciences, are translated to the practice of biomedical and health research. Implications and applicability to all areas of biomedical and health research are shown by providing illustrative examples. Finally, a tool is presented that allows for the detection of sex and gender bias throughout all phases of the research process and shows how this bias can be overcome through sex- and gender-sensitive (1) relevance checking, (2) literature search, (3) formulation of research questions and hypotheses, (4) research methods and sample, (5) data analysis and interpretation, ( 6) reporting, and ( 7) conclusions and recommendations

Applying a gender lens on human papillomavirus infection: cervical cancer screening, HPV DNA testing, and HPV vaccination

BACKGROUND: Our aim is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of knowledge on sex (biological) and gender (sociocultural) aspects of Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer for educational purposes. Considerable disparities exist in cervical cancer incidences between different subgroups of women. We provide an outline on the crucial issues and debates based on the recent literature published in leading gender medicine journals. Intersectionality was applied in order to help categorise the knowledge. METHODS: Key terms (HPV, cervical cancer) were screened in Gender Medicine, Journal of Women’s Health and Women & Health from January 2005-June 2012. Additional searches were conducted for topics insufficiently mentioned, such as HPV vaccination of boys. In total, 71 publications were included (56 original papers, four reviews, six reports, three commentaries, one editorial and one policy statement). RESULTS: Research reveals complexity in the way various subgroups of women adhere to cervical screening. Less educated women, older women, uninsured women, homeless women, migrant women facing language barriers, women who have sex with women and obese women participate in Pap smears less frequently. A series of barriers can act to impede decisions to vaccinate against HPV. CONCLUSIONS: Both male and female controlled preventive methods and treatment measures should be developed in order to tackle HPV infection and different strategies are needed for different subgroups. A substantial discussion and research on alternative methods of prevention was and is lacking. In future research, sex and gender aspects of HPV-related diseases of boys and men as well as subgroup differences in HPV risk need to be addressed

Gendered Innovations. Case Study: Science. The Genetics of sex determination

Wyzwanie badawcze. Badania nad różnicowaniem płci biologicznej w przeszłości skupiały się przede wszystkim na rozwoju jąder, ignorując w dużym stopniu aktywne procesy, które kontrolują rozwój jajników (Veitia 2010). De facto przez bardzo długi czas uważano, że rozwój jajników „przebiega pod nieobecność innych czynników, domyślnie (default)” lub „pasywnie” w wyniku bipotencjalności gonad. Metoda: przemyślenie na nowo pojęć i teorii Przyjęcie, że rozwój tego, co żeńskie, przebiega „domyślnie”, sprawiło, że badania skupiały się na różnicowaniu jąder, a po odkryciu genu SRY na powią- zanych z tym zagadnieniach, jak na przykład SOX9. Powstawanie jajników badano dużo rzadziej. Modele naukowe, które traktowały żeńską ścieżkę rozwojową jako „domyślną”, były niezgodne z brakiem rozwoju jajników w przypadku zespołu Turnera, by wymienić tylko jeden przykład. Innowacje genderowe: 1. Rozpoznanie, że różnicowanie się jajników jest procesem czynnym. Obecne badania wskazują na aktywne mechanizmy, które są niezbędne do wytworzenia jajników (Veitia 2010; Uhlenhaut i in. 2009). Odkrycia te zwiększyły naszą wiedzę na temat rozwoju jąder i tego, w jaki sposób ścieżki rozwoju jajników i jąder nawzajem na siebie oddziałują. 2. Odkrycie, że zachowanie [funkcjonujących normalnie] jajników i jąder jest procesem ciągłym. Badania nad rozwojem jajników pokazały, że gen kodujący regulator transkrypcji FOXL2 musi ulec ekspresji w dojrzałym pęcherzyku jajowym, aby zapobiec „przekształceniu dojrzałego jajnika w jądro” (Uhlenhaut i in. 2009). Następnie badacze odkryli, że czynnik transkrypcyjny DMRT1 jest potrzebny, by zapobiec przeprogramowaniu komórek Sertolego (podporowych komórek kanalika nasiennego) w warstwę ziarnistą (komórki wokół oocytu) (Matson i in. 2011). 3. Nowy język służący do opisu różnicowania się gonad. Badacze odrzucili ideę „tego, co domyślne” i podkreślają, że o ile ścieżki rozwoju samicy i samca są odmienne, o tyle formowanie jajników (podobnie jak jąder czy każdego innego organu) jest procesem czynnym. Każda z powyższych ścieżek rozwoju wymaga wystąpienia złożonej kaskady czynników genetycznych we właściwych dawkach i precyzyjnie określonym czasie