The MESSAGE sex and gender Policy Framework, the first of its kind in the UK, has been adopted by major funders including the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Wellcome and the British Heart Foundation. This means that researchers must now demonstrate how they have accounted for sex and gender in their study design across recruitment, data collection, data analysis and reporting in order to apply for funding. A number of medical research charities in the UK have also adapted their funding application processes to integrate consideration of sex and gender. This will impact the quality of medical evidence available, which in turn shapes healthcare delivery and the development of treatments.
The framework was co-designed with and endorsed by a broad range of stakeholders, including funders, regulators, publishers, patients, researchers and policymakers. This collaborative approach has built shared recognition of the importance of considering sex and gender across the research ecosystem, while recognising that implementation and policy change will need to be tailored to each stage of the research pipeline.
Following the success of the MESSAGE sex and gender policy framework, this approach is now being used to address other areas of health inequity, including consideration of race and ethnicity in medical research and the exclusion of pregnant women in clinical trials.
Our Research and Publications
Publication
Women are woefully under-researched—the Message project aims to redress the balance
Read more about Women are woefully under-researched—the Message project aims to redress the balance
Publication
NHS 10 year plan: Another lost decade for women’s health
Read more about NHS 10 year plan: Another lost decade for women’s health
Publication
Are sex and gender dimensions accounted for in NICE guidelines? A systematic review of 223 clinical guidelines
Read more about Are sex and gender dimensions accounted for in NICE guidelines? A systematic review of 223 clinical guidelines
Publication
Practical steps are required to prioritise women’s health in research globally
Read more about Practical steps are required to prioritise women’s health in research globally
Publication
Breaking the cycle: Why women of reproductive age belong in all areas of health research
Read more about Breaking the cycle: Why women of reproductive age belong in all areas of health research
Publication
Scientific consideration of sex and gender is the responsibility of the many, not the few
Read more about Scientific consideration of sex and gender is the responsibility of the many, not the few
Publication
Integrating sex and gender into biomedical research requires policy and culture change
Read more about Integrating sex and gender into biomedical research requires policy and culture change
Publication
Women’s health needs beyond sexual, reproductive, and maternal health are missing from the government’s 2024 priorities
Read more about Women’s health needs beyond sexual, reproductive, and maternal health are missing from the government’s 2024 priorities
Publication
A whole sector approach to policy change will accelerate integration of sex and gender in research
Read more about A whole sector approach to policy change will accelerate integration of sex and gender in research
Publication
UK medical research funders must do more to support sex and gender equity
Read more about UK medical research funders must do more to support sex and gender equityOur News
Featured News
Major UK funders launch first-of-their-kind sex and gender policies for biomedical, health and care research
MESSAGE News Collection
Analysis of NICE guidelines demonstrates the need for improved consideration of sex and gender in healthcare
Advancing sex and gender equity in health research: A roundup of the MESSAGE project’s achievements
New sex and gender framework addresses ‘one-size fits all’ approach to UK medical research
In 2024, momentum is building for improved integration of sex and gender in medical research
Top UK biomedical research funders support first-of-its-kind sex and gender policy in major sector turning point
Read more about Top UK biomedical research funders support first-of-its-kind sex and gender policy in major sector turning point
Funding success for project to improve sex and gender inclusivity in medical research
Read more about Funding success for project to improve sex and gender inclusivity in medical research
Policy Lab Briefing Packs
MESSAGE convened stakeholders from across the medical research sector to co-design our policy framework through a series of Policy Labs. These briefing materials were created in advance of each of the Policy Labs, demonstrating the MESSAGE co-design process.
