Navigating the paradigm shift of sex inclusive preclinical research and lessons learnt

After thirty years of research highlighting the risk of the sex bias in preclinical research, we now have tangible change happening in the research landscape with a rapid increase in the proportions of studies including female and male subjects. In practical terms, this will require a paradigm shift affecting choices around experimental design, analysis and presentation and considerations when drawing conclusions and planning next steps in the pipeline. As the preclinical research community embraces this new way of working, numerous insights are being published and shared on how to proceed. This article will signpost the learnings obtained and potential future steps that should be focused on. As progress is made in sex-inclusive preclinical research, the author highlights areas of research practice where significant development has been achieved & where more change is needed towards community accepted standards in equitable research