Both biological sex and socio-cultural gender roles are important variables in biomedical research and clinical medicine. Men and women differ not only in terms of the incidence and course of diseases and the age of onset, but also with regard to different therapy responses. The underlying causes of sex and gender differences and their pathophysiological relevance, as well as the consistent adaptation of prevention and therapy measures to all genders are becoming the focus of current research activities.

The relevance of this topic in medicine is also demonstrated by the fact that the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) implemented obligatory directies  for the integration of sex, gender and diversity aspects in basic and translational research projects (read more).

There is still a long way to go before sex and gender aspects are sufficiently taken into account in biomedical research and clinical medicine. Apart from research activities, this will only be achieved through the consistent integration of the cross-sectional subject “sex and gender-specific medicine” into the basic teaching of medical students and related courses and training. for established physicians and other medical staff.