The Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine will undertake research and advocacy to challenge the male-centric approach to medical care.
A new national research, policy and education centre to improve health outcomes for all Australians will challenge the ‘one-size-fits-all’ male-centric approach to medical care that results in significant disadvantage for women and girls, people with variations of sex characteristics (intersex people), trans and gender-diverse people.
The Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, launched at UNSW Sydney, is an initiative of The George Institute for Global Health, the Australian Human Rights Institute at UNSW Sydney, and Deakin University, with support from collaborative partners, the Victorian Department of Health and the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI).
“More than 70 per cent of participants in early-stage clinical trials are white men, with male cells and male animals used as standard in the laboratory,” said Professor Robyn Norton, Founding Director of The George Institute for Global Health, Professor of Public Health at UNSW Sydney and Chair of Global Health at Imperial College London.
“When these results are generalised to women, intersex, trans and gender-diverse people, we see long delays in diagnosis and intervention, inappropriate treatment or dosing, different responses to medicines and devices, and dismissal of pain or other symptoms,” she continued.
“This historical focus almost exclusively on the male means other populations have been understudied. Viewing trial protocols and analysis through a sex- and gender-sensitive lens can improve outcomes across the board.”
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