The CIB Margarita Salas launches a series of videos to vindicate the gender perspective in research

On the occasion of the Day of Women and Girls in Science celebrated on February 11, the Margarita Salas Center for Biological Research (CIB-CSIC) premieres the video "Research with mice: why sex does matter", the first of an audiovisual series that covers the effects on the quality of research, care and medical treatment that women receive.

Although it has been shown that the biological differences between men and women affect all areas of health, the exclusive use of male mice in scientific research is still common practice in laboratories around the world, a gender bias that makes that many discoveries or drugs are not only ineffective for women's health but can sometimes even be harmful.

According to data endorsed by the National Health Institute (NIH, USA), women are between 50% and 75% more likely to suffer more serious side effects from medications. A study carried out by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in the US also ensured that 8 out of 10 drugs withdrawn from the market had more serious side effects only in women.

The video, promoted by the center's Commissions for Gender Equality and Research and Society, is part of a campaign that aims to raise awareness and make visible the gender biases present in the field of research, as well as its consequences for health of women. The video counts on the testimony of Patricia Boya, a researcher at the CIB Margarita Salas, who states that "for the balanced use of animals of both sexes, it is necessary a change of perception and be aware that these biases can also affect preclinical research.” Boya also calls for "clearer legislation in this regard, and incentives that promote the inclusion of sex as a fundamental variable in the field of health."

This new series of videos want to put a voice and a name to all those biases in the field of health, in a rigorous, entertaining and lucid way, highlighting that being a woman does not mean having worse access to medicine, and making us aware on these biases, often unconscious, that can operate even in the research practice itself.

This series of videos is the result of the collaboration with Anna Aguiló and Tatiana López and the production is carried out by Pau Sanclemente.

Watch the video here: