Equality in medicine: Gender and diversity now in focus!

Equality in medicine: Gender and diversity now in focus!

The consideration of gender and diversity characteristics in medical research and healthcare is increasingly recognized as crucial. Today the topic addresses the critical need to take gender differences into account in the data. Studies show that the course of the disease and the success of therapy depend heavily on biological gender. For example, men are disproportionately affected by sepsis, while women are more likely to suffer from heart failure as they age. However, these aspects are often neglected in many clinical studies. The consequences are inadequate medical care standards, which result from a lack of differentiated data, such as uni-kiel.de reported.

The need for a more comprehensive approach is also underlined by the initiative of Prof. Stefan Schreiber, spokesman for the Cluster of Excellence “Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation” (PMI). In this initiative, the medical faculty of the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel (CAU), the Medicine Section of the University of Lübeck (UzL) and the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) have decided on a joint data sharing statement. The aim of this measure is to promote data transparency in medical research and to support scientists who provide differentiated data according to gender and diversity characteristics in their publications. Prof. Joachim Thiery highlights the importance of such features for holistic clinical research, as they make it easier to recognize subtle differences.

Gender-sensitive approaches in research

A gender-sensitive approach is particularly important because symptoms can vary in severity in women and men. For example, women show different symptoms than men when they have a heart attack. Mental illnesses such as depression are often diagnosed less frequently in men, although in many cases women are more severely affected. These individual differences, which go beyond gender, age and lifestyle, are central to the development of targeted treatment methods. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) emphasizes that the consideration of gender-sensitive aspects in clinical research is necessary in order to close the currently existing data gaps gesundheitsforschung-bmbf.de explained.

To reduce the gender data gap in clinical research, the BMBF launched the funding initiative in April 2025 with 43 projects and 5.7 million euros. The focus also includes the promotion of interdisciplinary centers for reproductive health, which have been set up since November 2023. These centers are dedicated to topics such as women's health, male fertility and the influence of obesity.

The future of gender-sensitive medicine

In order to improve responsiveness to therapies, Prof. Gabriela Riemekasten emphasizes the need for genetic considerations in medical research. The initiatives of the two universities send a clear signal for more equality, diversity and precision in medical research. These efforts are in line with international guidelines, such as the ICMJE, which emphasize the ethical obligation to share clinical trial data responsibly.

The ongoing developments in the field of gender-sensitive medicine illustrate the ongoing need for research. Numerous studies, including works by Bartig et al. (2021) and Heise et al. (2019), show the significant health challenges and risks of discrimination in the healthcare system caused by gender differences. Taking these differences into account is not only seen as necessary, but as crucial for improving health care in Germany and worldwide bundesstiftung-gleichstellung.de explained in detail.