Evaluating the National Institutes of Health's Sex as a Biological Variable Policy: Conflicting Accounts from the Front Lines of Animal Research

• DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8674
• Publication Date: 2020-11-20T01:49:58Z
• Authors: Margaret Waltz; Jill A. Fisher; Anne Drapkin Lyerly; Rebecca L. Walker
• Keywords: Value (mathematics)

Background: Since the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act 1993, focus on equitable inclusion women in clinical research has been ongoing. NIH's 2015 sex as a biological variable (SABV) policy aims to transform design, analysis, and reporting preclinical sphere by including male female organisms vertebrate animal well human studies. However, questions remain regarding how researchers members oversight committees perceive value need SABV policy. Materials Methods: Based 62 interviews with personnel, we analyze what community knows about sees benefits challenges implementation. Results: We found that interviewees disagreed for policy, some being supportive others questioning whether is based science or politically motivated. There were also tensions conceptualized resources needed implementing For instance, while thought implementation would require significant increase numbers animals used each study, explicitly rejected this claim. Conclusions: conclude discussing practical social implications our findings views