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MISSING: National Institutes of Health Attention to Sex differences in Medical Research
The Society for Women’s Health Research (NCRW Member Center) kicked off Women’s Health Week (May 8-14) with the release of findings that grants awarded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the study of sex differences represented a very small percentage of total grants awarded over a four-year period. The Society’s Vice President for Scientific Affairs, Sherry Marts, PhD, stated: “We are concerned that the average number of grants focused on sex differences did not gradually rise over the course of the observed four years… Sex differences research should be a part of the portfolio of nearly all of the existing NIH institutes and centers. They must carefully consider ways to promote interest and progress in sex differences research among their extramural program staff, and their grantees.”
According to the Society, the study of biological differences between the sexes is critically important to achieving optimal health for both men and women. Until the 1990s, medical research was based primarily on the male model—which discounted experiences specific to women. For example, before differences between men and women were studied closely, it was not known that women suffered from heart disease at higher rates than men. Today, “sex differences in disease susceptibility, prevalence, time of onset and severity are evident in cancer, obesity, coronary heart disease, autoimmune disorders, mental health disorders, and others.”
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