Sex as a Biological Variable in the Conduct of Research
Sex as a Biological Variable in the Conduct of Research
Women are understudied in biomedical research. Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) is not included in most biomedical training programs. This is the first curriculum developed to train investigators to conduct quality, evidence-based research in SABV.
This curriculum includes two SABV training opportunities that are further outlined below:
- Online Coursera Specialization - "Introduction to Sex as a Biological Variable in the Conduct of Research"
- Hybrid in-person/online training - Project Development Curriculum: opportunity to apply for a hybrid in-person/online training to develop a grant, research project, or guide data analysis with attention to sex as a biological variable (note: applicants must first complete the online Coursera specialization)
Introduction to Sex as a Biological Variable in the Conduct of Research
The Coursera Specialization focuses on the importance of studying sex differences and Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV). This course is through three online interactive courses.
The first course addresses the gaps in understanding of physiology that resulted from research conducted only on males. The other two courses drill down into methodological questions relevant to basic science, animal, and human studies. Learning content includes a range of topics from research recruitment to accounting for hormone effects, from working with statistics to exploring machine learning in scientific research.
This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about the importance and overview of methodologies of SABV.
Sex as a Biological Variable in the Conduct of Research: Project Development Curriculum
Who:
- Targeted towards a learning community of early-career researchers with a research focus on women’s health, and/or differences (SABV).
- To participate in this workshop, you must first complete the Coursera Course.
- For the Spring 2027 Cohort, must be a post-doctoral fellow or faculty member at the University of Colorado Anschutz
- Includes foundational sex differences and SABV content, defined as the critical content about sex and SABV.
- Features national leaders in the field of women’s health research and/or SABV.
- Will include coaching, networking and mentoring opportunities, project-based learning opportunities.
- Includes units on analysis of existing SABV literature; Methods and design for sex differences and SABV research; Review of influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of bioinformatics in women’s health research, Project completion; Communicating SABV research.
- This is a non-academic credit curriculum hosted within the University of Colorado Anschutz.
- For Spring 2027, this is a pilot program and will require participation in learner surveys.
- Support grant, project development or data analysis with manuscript writing through a SABV lens.
- In-person, synchronous and asynchronous workshops with guided independent work.
- There is no cost to participate.
- Competitive Application (Apply here) due by October 25, 2026.
- Session 1, In-person, Thursday February 18th, 8 AM - 4 PM
- Session 2, Remote, Two 4-hours sessions, Week of March 22nd-27th
- Session 3, In-person, Tuesday May 4th, 8 AM - 4 PM
