Directions for sex and gender-based health research in Korea: implications of the Amendments of the Framework Act on Science and Technology.

Abstract

Since the first report, “Gendered Innovations: How Gender Analysis Contributes to Research,” published by the European Commission in 2013, many examples and case studies have demonstrated that the integration of sex and gender-based analysis (SGBA) into research can not only enhance research excellence but also add inclusive value for both men and women [1]. In the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the incorporation of SGBA into research has received new attention as extensive scientific evidence has indicated that biological sex matters in the immune system, which responds differently to vaccination in males and females. The publication of scientific evidence that does not properly reflect SGBA not only leads to unequal research results in men and women but can also have life-threatening results and cause investment losses. In order to reach a higher level of excellence in biomedical and health research and development, reflecting on SGBA has been an international trend, and various research support policies have been established and applied in the European Union (EU), the United States (US), and Canada [2]. The US National Institute of Health (NIH) mandated “integrating sex as a biological variable in vertebrate animals and human studies” in 2016 and the EU recommended reflecting gender as a dimension in research during Horizon 2020 for 7 years (2014–2020) and carried out “Gender Flagged” projects [3]. Horizon Europe, which began in 2021 following Horizon 2020, further introduced a research and innovation policy in which the integration of the gender dimension into research and teaching is recommended in addition to the mandatory process-related requirements for a gender equality plan [4]. An SGBA policy of peer-reviewed journals is another factor in promoting gender-based research in health. More than 33 professional journals in the field of biomedical science and health research such as Nature, The Lancet, and Cell have introduced policies requiring or strongly recommending SGBA analysis when submitting manuscripts [5].