About Us
The MESSAGE project aims to improve consideration of sex and/or gender by UK biomedical, health and care researchers.
About MESSAGE
MESSAGE is leading the health research sector towards greater consideration of sex and gender through policy co-design, training provision and thought leadership. Our goal is to realise a culture change in research practice so that sex and gender dimensions are at the core of project planning and execution, from study design through to data collection, analysis and reporting.
Why Sex and Gender?
Sex and gender affect our experience of illness, the conditions and symptoms we develop, how we are treated within a healthcare system, how we respond to treatment (including side effects), and our overall health outcomes. It is important to understand differences and similarities related to sex and gender to conduct accurate and safe research and improve health outcomes for all peoples.
Evidence demonstrates that there is, and has historically been, an over-representation of male participants in biomedical research:
- Up to 5.5 times more males than females are used in cell and animal research (Beery & Zucker, 2011)
- In phase I clinical trials, around 20% of participants are women (Ravindran et al., 2020)
Likewise, study data is rarely disaggregated on the basis of sex and gender in reported results and statistical models largely control for sex rather than treating it as an effect modifier.
Research which doesn’t take account of sex and gender leads to less targeted care and worse outcomes for all people, but particularly for cis women, trans and intersex people, and people with variations of sex characteristics.
Realising change
MESSAGE is working to address sex and gender inequity in health research through several core pillars: policy, training, thought leadership and research.
Policy co-design
MESSAGE brings together researchers, funders, patients, publishers, regulators, policymakers and other health sector stakeholders to develop practical policy tools for advancing equity in health research. Using participatory approaches, including co-creative workshops and Policy Labs, we support stakeholders to identify problems, develop solutions collaboratively and build realistic plans for implementation. Our approach helps to ensure that health research policies are both rigorous and capable of delivering meaningful, sustainable impact.
We used this approach to create the UK’s first sex and gender Policy Framework for research funders, which was co-designed by over 50 stakeholders from across the health research sector.
We are now working to advance harmonised integration of sex and gender at the global scale, and are supporting funders to deliver effective policies to this end:
- A globally harmonised, actionable framework for health research funders to assess integration of sex – MESSAGE Global
We are also applying our policy co-design methodology to advance other areas of equity in health research:
- Advancing consideration of intersectionality in UK medical research – Our Intersectionality Community of Practice
- Ensuring race and ethnicity are accounted for in health and care research – Equity by Evidence
- Identifying opportunities for safe inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women in medical research – MESSAGE Maternity
Please get in touch if you would like to learn more about how we can support your work with our methodology.
Training
Our Imperial College London short course provides first-class training on integration of sex and gender in health research studies across data collection, data analysis and reporting of findings, as well as applying a sex and gender lens to healthcare delivery, health policy, and medical communications.
Our free e-learning module will introduce you to key questions you should take into consideration when designing a research study to account for sex and gender.
You can use our resource library to understand best practice for sex and gender integration in your medical field and read specialist collections curated by leading academics.
Thought leadership and original research
MESSAGE is working across the health research sector, but also with policymakers and the wider public, to make consideration of sex and gender a standard part of health research. We are using our expertise and influence to support effective implementation of this agenda nationally while helping to drive progress internationally. Our engagement spans both specialist and public audiences, which we engage through publications, conferences and speaking engagements, as well as mainstream media, podcasts and other public-facing platforms. Through this combination of sector engagement and public communication, MESSAGE is helping to build awareness, shift practice and accelerate the global adoption of sex and gender considerations in health research.