IMPULSE
The ENLIGHT Thematic “Interdisciplinary Network on the Impact of Sex and Gender in Health” aims to establish a sustainable and interdisciplinary collaborative platform to address a critical but often overlooked dimension of health and wellbeing: the role of sex and gender differences in health outcomes, research, education and clinical practice.
Category: ENLIGHT Thematic Network
University:
University of Bern, Comenius University Bratislava, University of Bordeaux, University of Galway, University of Göttingen, Uppsala University
Period:
2025-2027
The ENLIGHT Thematic “Interdisciplinary Network on the Impact of Sex and Gender in Health” aims to establish a sustainable and interdisciplinary collaborative platform to address a critical but often overlooked dimension of health and wellbeing: the role of sex and gender differences in health outcomes, research, education and clinical practice. This network brings together a diverse alliance of ENLIGHT institutions to promote structural change, foster innovation, and enhance equity in health sciences by integrating sex and gender perspectives.
Health outcomes are deeply influenced by both biological (sex-based) and sociocultural (gender-based) factors. Despite this, sex and gender dimensions have traditionally been underrepresented in research protocols, education curricula, and healthcare strategies. This lack of integration has led to significant knowledge gaps, diagnostic biases, and unequal access to quality care. Our network seeks to address these systemic issues through a transdisciplinary approach spanning medicine, pharmacy, nursing, social sciences, public health, law, gender studies, etc.
The ambition of the network is threefold: 1) Raise awareness and literacy around sex and gender health disparities among students, researchers, and professionals; 2) Reduce gender bias in health-related research and education by supporting institutional transformation and 3) Promote co-creation and societal engagement by involving students, citizen groups, and advocacy organizations in shaping educational and public health initiatives.
The key activities are the development of innovative educational materials and OERs; research outputs including co-supervised theses, open-access publications, white papers, and policy briefs; public engagement through co-created health campaigns, citizen forums, and digital storytelling; and institutional tools to assess gender sensitivity, build faculty capacity, and strengthen stakeholder collaboration.
The network is designed to address societal and educational transformations that foster equitable healthcare systems. Our goals are to enhance multilingual and sustainable academic offerings, support diversity and equality in research and promote universities as engines of sustainable and inclusive development.
Personal highlight:
In our journey, we intend to put sex & gender factors on the agenda of health education, research and clinical practice, looking to achieve stronger consolidation of equity, diversity and multiculturality.
Participants and Stakeholders
- Coordinator: Lucía Gallego (University of the Basque Country)
- Other Partner Institutions: University of Bordeaux, Comenius University Bratislava, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Uppsala University, University of Bern and University of Galway,
Team Composition:
University of the Basque Country Team: Lucía Gallego, Principal Researcher; Sandra Sanchez-Urtaza, Postdoc Researcher; Cristina Penas,Postdoctoral Researcher; Iratxe Pérez, Researcher;Virginia Guillen, Researcher; Laura Alfonso, PhD student: Mariam Otmani, PhD student; Sofía Villareal, Medical student; María Estrella Sánchez-Corchero, Researcher; Maitane Aranzamendi; Researcher; Ana Bernal, Researcher; Harkaitz Zubiri, Researcher; Miren Josune Canduela, Researcher; Margarita Saenz, Researcher; Tania Huedo, Researcher; Lucía Sangroniz, PhD student; Sandra Beriain, Postdoctoral Researcher; Raquel Navarro, Researcher; Garazi Alvarez-Guerrero, Researcher; Ane Olabarria, Researcher.
University of Bordeaux Team: Marta Avalos Fernández, Principal Researcher; Emmanuel Lagarde, Researcher; Ariel Guerra-Adames, PhD student; Océane Dorémus, PhD student; Florence Saillour-Glénisson, Researcher; Cédric Gil-Jardiné, Researcher; Yamina Meziani, Researcher; Andja Scdic Srebro,Researcher; Céline Hosteins, PhD student; Nadia Elorga-Castagnet, Researcher; Marie Peyronnet, Researcher; Emilie Lasaine, PhD student; Marthe-Aline Jutand, Researcher.
Comenius University Bratislava Team: Eva Drobná, Principal Researcher; Hana Kinová-Sepova, Researcher; Stanislava Kosírová, Researcher.
University of Göttingen Team: Corinna Schmechel, Principal Researcher.
Uppsala University Team: Alexandra Teleki, Principal Researcher; Mia Phillipson; Researcher; Matts Olovsson, Researcher; Christel Bergström, Researcher; Paarkavi Udayakumar, PhD student.
University of Bern Team: Jeanne Moor, Principal Researcher; Nicola Low, Researcher; Berna Özdemir, Researcher; Isa Egger, Master student.
University of Galway Team: Katarzyna Whysall, Principal Researcher; Lara Rodriguez-Outeiriño, Researcher; Maria Borja-Gonzalez, Researcher; Anthony Sannicandro, Researcher.
- Stakeholders/External Partners:
NON-ENLIGHT Universities: María Teresa Ruiz-Cantero (University of Alicante); Rut Lucas, Cristina Rius, Esther Roca (University of Valencia); Rocío García (Deusto University); Mar Joanpere, José Oriol Rios (University Rovira I Virgil).
In region of University of the Basque Country: AVIEM (Student Union, Fac. Medicine & Nursing);Asociación Cultural Manuela Eguiguren, Mairi Emakume Feminista Batza, Eskuz Eskuz Abesbatza, ONEKA , EMELKA, SARELILAK, Foro Emakumeak Medikuntzan, SIN ROMI Asociación de Mujeres Gitanas, Erabide Emakume Elkartea, Emakumeen Elkartea Etxeko Andre, Aldeketa Elkarte Feminista, AMUVES, Hay una esperanza para tí, ALDAKETA, SIAL, , (Women’s Associations of Biscay)
In region of Comenius University Bratislava: Slovak Pharmacy Students Association; Femtechclub.
In region of University of Bern: Swiss Gender Health Network; Female Empower in Life Science Bern
In region of Georg-August-Universität Göttingen: Bundesverbrand Trans e.V. (NGO Advocacy for Trans People in Germany); Bundesverband Intergeschlechtliche Menschen e.V. (NGO Advocacy of Intersexual People in Germany).
Objectives
Project Rationale and Goals
Sex and gender influence how individuals experience health and illness, including their response to risk factors, disease prevalence, symptom manifestation, healthcare access, treatment outcomes, and aging processes. Recognizing these differences is essential for building inclusive and effective health systems.
This initiative seeks to raise awareness of how sex and gender affect health and disease outcomes. It aims to improve biomedical education, research and clinical practice by integrating sex and gender analysis into study designs, treatment approaches, and healthcare management. Additionally, it highlights the impact of gender-based violence and the healthcare challenges faced by women, LGBTQ+ populations and other minorities.
Key Objectives
- International Collaboration: Establish a cross-disciplinary network within the ENLIGHT alliance to foster collaborative research and education on sex and gender-related health inequalities.
- Awareness and Training: Promote awareness of the effects of sex and gender in health, including the specific impacts on women and LGBTQ+ individuals, and provide tools for early detection and management of gender-related health disparities.
- Research Inclusion: Address the gaps in biomedical research by advocating for sex and gender-inclusive study designs, equipping researchers and students with the necessary tools and frameworks.
- Curriculum Integration: Incorporate sex and gender analysis into academic curricula to build future professionals’ capacities in recognizing and addressing health inequalities.
- Transdisciplinary Education: Train students from diverse disciplines in the interplay between biological and social determinants of health, encouraging a comprehensive, intersectional understanding.
Contact
- Contact Person(s): Lucia Gallego
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Project Website: IMPULSE ENLIGHT – Innovating Medicine & Health Sciences with Gender Perspective
Additional information
Expected Impact & Results
The benefits of sex & gender-sensitive education in Health Sciences are: a) To improve the quality of teaching and the social relevance of knowledge, technologies and innovations; b) To understand the needs, behaviours and attitudes of the population as a whole; c) To stimulate students’ critical thinking; d) To develop competences that enable them to avoid gender blindness in their professional practice; e) To identify gender imbalances in their professional practice ; e) To identify imbalances in the learning environment and to improve teaching and assessment methodologies; f) To develop the capacity of students to develop their skills and competences in order to improve their professional practice; g) To have a positive impact on the teacher-student learning environment. ; and i) To contribute to reflect on the professional environment and the organizational culture of the discipline itself and j) To make researchers aware of sex and gender biases in biomedical research and provide them with useful tools.
Strategies for Impact Beyond the Alliance
To maximize reach and influence, the ETN will adopt the following strategies:
-Open Access & Transferability: All resources will be designed for easy adoption by non-ENLIGHT institutions. OERs will be licensed under Creative Commons, and multilingual formats will be prioritized to enhance usability.
-Media and Dissemination Strategy: Activities will be accompanied by a robust communication plan, including press releases, explainer videos, and infographics designed general population and academic and researcher community.
Engagement of External Stakeholders
Engaging non-academic actors is fundamental to both the methodology and impact of this ETN. Our stakeholder plan includes:
-Citizen Involvement through participatory design workshops, feedback loops, and public forums.
-We will seek advisory roles from national and international experts (e.g., WHO Gender and Health division, European Institute for Gender Equality) and include them in our annual conference panels to ensure alignment with global best practices.