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Webinar: (2021-04) Now Is No Time to Relax: Why the Global Pandemic Strengthens the Case for Considering Sex as a Biological Variable



Established five years ago in January 2016, the NIH policy on the Consideration of Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) is a part of a global movement to integrate the study of sex into research. Considering SABV in research studies and reporting results by sex lead to a more complete knowledge base that improves rigor and reproducibility, a tenet of good science. Increased knowledge leads to more productive future research, more effective treatments, and better health for women (and men). The coronavirus pandemic has revealed critical gaps in our knowledge base, intransigent health disparities and health inequities, and runs the risk of reversing years of progress toward gender equity. It is a reason to redouble our efforts to apply NIH policies, fully integrate the study of sex into the research process, and support women’s advancement in biomedical research careers.

Agenda
  • The scientific rationale and ethical imperative that led to the NIH policy on SABV, which became effective in January of 2016.
  • Progress to date implementing relevant NIH policies, including notable achievements, milestones, and remaining barriers.
  • The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women, especially women from underserved populations, and the biomedical research community.
  • How the differences in effects of the virus on women as compared to men reveals critical gaps in our scientific knowledge base and longstanding flaws in how biomedical studies account for the effects of sex at all levels of research.

What will I learn?

After attending this webinar, you will be able to:

  • Describe the requirements of the NIH policy on SABV and the scientific and ethical rationales for accounting for SABV at all levels of research.
  • Identify the various ways that NIH has sought to implement the SABV policy, its progress since the policy’s effective date five years ago, and the barriers and challenges that remain to full integration of the study of sex in the research process.
  • Explain the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the health of women, especially women from underserved populations, and the continued participation and advancement of women in biomedical research careers.

Who should attend? (No prerequisite knowledge is required.)
  • Oversight professionals responsible for implementing the regulations that protect humans and animals involved in research studies, as well as biomedical researchers, clinicians, and academics.
  • Decision makers who design health-related programming including research protocols

Access Interval
Access to live content will be available for 90 days after the recording is made available. After 90 days, access to the content will be removed, but users will retain access to any certificates of attendance earned. To earn a certificate, one must complete all required sections and complete the certificate section within the 90-day access period. After access has expired, users can purchase an additional 90 days of access.