Published: January 2025

Sex and gender play a fundamental role in health and the development and progression of illness. These characteristics influence the diseases and symptoms a person develops, their experience of that disease (including treatments available to them and possible side effects), and their overall outcomes.

Currently, biomedical, health and care research does not adequately account for relevant sex and gender differences in disease.  It is critical for us to understand these differences and for us to account for them in research. These reasons include:

• Increasing the accuracy, translatability, relevance and reproducibility of research
• Improving patient safety and health outcomes
• Ensuring that the research works for all target audiences
• Making sure that research can be trusted and utilised by and for all end users
• Maximising the economic value of research

Sex and gender are multi-faceted concepts which are used and understood differently in different contexts, societies, groups and languages. Usage of these terms has changed over time and is likely to continue changing. When we refer to ‘sex’, we mean the biological attributes which differentiate females and males, and which can include variations of what are considered female-typical and male-typical characteristics (sometimes known as “variations in sex characteristics” or “intersex”). When we refer to ‘gender’ we mean an aspect of a person’s identity. A person is subjected to a range of social forces (both constraints and privileges) based on their gender, which may influence their behaviours, their perception of themselves and how they are treated by others. All of these influences may be relevant for biomedical, health and care research.

Recent work from the MESSAGE project, conducted by the George Institute working with stakeholders including AMRC and member charities, sets out the UK gold standard for best practice when incorporating sex and gender into research projects.

Download the full framework

This includes:

• Application forms
• Assessment
• Monitoring
• Reporting and publishing

Read our blog on our work with the MESSAGE project below.