Study shows progress in women's inclusion in clinical trials

Sophie Zaaijer speaking during the "Why Counting Women Is Not Enough" panel discussion at the Health Equity & Research Summit (HERS). Credit: University of California, Irvine

There's good news to report when it comes to women's health. A new study provides encouraging evidence that most clinical trials have substantial female representation relative to disease burden. The study also shows an increase in therapeutic investment for diseases affecting women.

"These results show promise—the field has moved beyond widespread exclusion," says Sophie Zaaijer, Ph.D., who led the study as a research specialist in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. "At the same time, the work also signals a shift in thinking."

As women are increasingly included in trials, Zaaijer and her colleagues are now challenging the field with a deeper question: Are we truly studying women—or simply counting them?

The good news