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Sex and gender in infection and immunity : addressing the bottlenecks from basic science to public health and clinical applications

Pasin, Chloé ; Consiglio, Camila R. LU ; Huisman, Jana S. ; De Lange, Ann Marie G. ; Peckham, Hannah ; Vallejo-Yagüe, Enriqueta ; Abela, Irene A. ; Islander, Ulrika ; Neuner-Jehle, Nadia and Pujantell, Maria , et al. (2023) In Royal Society Open Science 10(7).
Abstract

Although sex and gender are recognized as major determinants of health and immunity, their role is rarely considered in clinical practice and public health. We identified six bottlenecks preventing the inclusion of sex and gender considerations from basic science to clinical practice, precision medicine and public health policies. (i) A terminology-related bottleneck, linked to the definitions of sex and gender themselves, and the lack of consensus on how to evaluate gender. (ii) A data-related bottleneck, due to gaps in sex-disaggregated data, data on trans/non-binary people and gender identity. (iii) A translational bottleneck, limited by animal models and the underrepresentation of gender minorities in biomedical studies. (iv) A... (More)

Although sex and gender are recognized as major determinants of health and immunity, their role is rarely considered in clinical practice and public health. We identified six bottlenecks preventing the inclusion of sex and gender considerations from basic science to clinical practice, precision medicine and public health policies. (i) A terminology-related bottleneck, linked to the definitions of sex and gender themselves, and the lack of consensus on how to evaluate gender. (ii) A data-related bottleneck, due to gaps in sex-disaggregated data, data on trans/non-binary people and gender identity. (iii) A translational bottleneck, limited by animal models and the underrepresentation of gender minorities in biomedical studies. (iv) A statistical bottleneck, with inappropriate statistical analyses and results interpretation. (v) An ethical bottleneck posed by the underrepresentation of pregnant people and gender minorities in clinical studies. (vi) A structural bottleneck, as systemic bias and discriminations affect not only academic research but also decision makers. We specify guidelines for researchers, scientific journals, funding agencies and academic institutions to address these bottlenecks. Following such guidelines will support the development of more efficient and equitable care strategies for all.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
bottlenecks, immunity, infection, sex and gender
in
Royal Society Open Science
volume
10
issue
7
article number
221628
publisher
Royal Society Publishing
external identifiers
  • pmid:37416827
  • scopus:85165411948
ISSN
2054-5703
DOI
10.1098/rsos.221628
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
fea91f4d-aa95-4c78-8184-a03d74846967
date added to LUP
2023-09-12 11:46:02
date last changed
2024-04-20 03:07:06
@article{fea91f4d-aa95-4c78-8184-a03d74846967,
  abstract     = {{<p>Although sex and gender are recognized as major determinants of health and immunity, their role is rarely considered in clinical practice and public health. We identified six bottlenecks preventing the inclusion of sex and gender considerations from basic science to clinical practice, precision medicine and public health policies. (i) A terminology-related bottleneck, linked to the definitions of sex and gender themselves, and the lack of consensus on how to evaluate gender. (ii) A data-related bottleneck, due to gaps in sex-disaggregated data, data on trans/non-binary people and gender identity. (iii) A translational bottleneck, limited by animal models and the underrepresentation of gender minorities in biomedical studies. (iv) A statistical bottleneck, with inappropriate statistical analyses and results interpretation. (v) An ethical bottleneck posed by the underrepresentation of pregnant people and gender minorities in clinical studies. (vi) A structural bottleneck, as systemic bias and discriminations affect not only academic research but also decision makers. We specify guidelines for researchers, scientific journals, funding agencies and academic institutions to address these bottlenecks. Following such guidelines will support the development of more efficient and equitable care strategies for all.</p>}},
  author       = {{Pasin, Chloé and Consiglio, Camila R. and Huisman, Jana S. and De Lange, Ann Marie G. and Peckham, Hannah and Vallejo-Yagüe, Enriqueta and Abela, Irene A. and Islander, Ulrika and Neuner-Jehle, Nadia and Pujantell, Maria and Roth, Olivia and Schirmer, Melanie and Tepekule, Burcu and Zeeb, Marius and Hachfeld, Anna and Aebi-Popp, Karoline and Kouyos, Roger D. and Bonhoeffer, Sebastian}},
  issn         = {{2054-5703}},
  keywords     = {{bottlenecks; immunity; infection; sex and gender}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
  series       = {{Royal Society Open Science}},
  title        = {{Sex and gender in infection and immunity : addressing the bottlenecks from basic science to public health and clinical applications}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.221628}},
  doi          = {{10.1098/rsos.221628}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}