Prompted by critical reports that federally funded research often lacks female participation, the National Institutes of Health announced that it is strengthening its
guidelines to close the gender gap on medical research.
This response stems, in large part, from ongoing efforts by the Society for Women's Research to expose the problem of excluding women from major medical research studies. Its
most recent criticism is based on recent findings from a team of researchers that gender analysis is missing in most research conducted by four leading medical journals. The study
was published in the June issue of the Journal of Women's Health and Sex-Based Medicine.
The NIH issued a notice to its centers, institutes and grantee institutions underscoring the need to include women in clinical trials and analyses of data for sex differences.
This directive also is being included in instructions for research applications, grant funds and a new Web site has been devoted to including women and minorities in medical
research.
(Society for Women's Research, Sarah Gevers, 202/496-5015; http://www.womens-health.org)