Understanding the importance of biological sex in experimental design is critical for developing effective and inclusive biomedical solutions to pressing medical problems. Traditionally, clinical trials have predominantly focused on Caucasian males as subjects, ignoring considerations for other groups of individuals including biological females. In 2016, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) implemented the sex as a biological variable (SABV) policy in vertebrate animal and human studies to prompt researchers to include sex as a parameter for investigation. This session will explore the difference between biological sex and gender, the NIH SABV policy, and key biological sex factors that should be considered when developing experimental designs. Attendees will also have the opportunity to apply the learnings of this session to their own research and think critically about how their own research can be more inclusive.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the NIH SABV policy and its impact on biomedical research
Summarize key biological sex characteristics relevant to experimental design
Identify components within the attendee’s own research where biological sex should be considered
