Dissecting Sex and Gender in Toxicology

Registration is required for this free webinar 

Hosted by the SOT Out Toxicologists and Allies & Women in Toxicology Special Interest Groups 

This panel will focus on how to define, study, and communicate about “sex” and “gender”. Both sex and gender are continuously evolving concepts, extending beyond traditionally viewed binary phenomena. Sex- and gender-related research has enormous potential to improve our understanding of physiology, toxicology, and disease risk, and transform disease treatments, but also has important social implications. While clinical and basic science have been infamously male-centric, important strides have been made recently by increasing female inclusion in research (by the NIH SABV initiative) and promoting women’s health initiatives (through new centers and initiatives). However, as the gender landscape in the society expands and anti-trans legislations spread throughout the country, there is an urgent need to reexamine how we study, teach, and communicate about sex and gender. Sex is a complex and context-dependent variable – how do we account for this in our study designs and interpretations? Where does “sex” end and “gender” begin? How can the SABV policy and women’s health initiatives be shaped to preserve their positive impacts while making sure that they account for gender inclusivity? These and many other questions will be discussed in this panel with the central question on how to study sex/gender in the most scientifically accurate and the most socially responsible way. 

Speakers 

Megan Massa, PhD, Assistant Teaching Professor, Emory University 

Liisa Galea, PhD, Professor, University of Toronto and Center for Addiction and Mental Health Canada 

Patricia Silveyra, PhD, Professor, Indiana University