PAINDIFF reshaping sex and gender inclusion in pain research.
Chronic Pain Ireland is pleased to share that a major international manuscript outlining recommendations for the inclusion and study of sex and gender in pain research has been published in Nature Neuroscience by the PAINDIFF Network.
The paper sets out a comprehensive and practical roadmap to address longstanding gaps, barriers and inconsistencies in how sex and gender are considered across preclinical, clinical and biopsychosocial research. You can read the full paper and recommendations here:
👉 https://rdcu.be/eWJDG
Why this research matters
Growing evidence shows that there are meaningful differences between males and females in disease prevalence, biological pathways and responses to treatment. Chronic pain is a clear example of this, affecting approximately one in five people worldwide, with women disproportionately impacted.
As medical research increasingly moves towards personalised approaches, understanding both biological sex and gender-related factors is essential for improving health outcomes. Historically, however, these variables have been inconsistently included or analysed, limiting the relevance and translatability of research findings to real-world care.
About the PAINDIFF recommendations
Led by the University of Galway, the PAINDIFF Network brought together 32 international experts, early career researchers and patient advocates to examine how sex and gender are currently studied in pain research and to identify practical ways to improve practice across disciplines.
The resulting paper presents 13 actionable recommendations, organised under three themes:
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Universal recommendations applicable to all research, including the routine inclusion of both males and females, and sex-disaggregated analysis and reporting
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Preclinical recommendations, addressing issues such as reporting the sex of cell lines and tissues, housing and environmental conditions, and experimental design
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Clinical recommendations, including best practice for collecting and reporting data on sex assigned at birth and gender identity in a respectful and meaningful way
Together, these recommendations aim to reduce variability, improve reproducibility, and enhance the translation of research findings into better care and outcomes.
The work was carried out under the ERA-NET NEURON initiative, funded by the European Union and the Health Research Board, and led by researchers at the University of Galway’s Centre for Pain Research.
Chronic Pain Ireland’s contribution
Chronic Pain Ireland is proud to be a non academic partner, have two members of our Board, both with lived experience of chronic pain, be part of the PAINDIFF Network where they are named as a co-author on the manuscript. The involvement of people with lived experience ensures that the patient voice was embedded throughout the development of these recommendations.
Meaningful inclusion of lived experience is essential if research is to reflect the realities faced by people living with chronic pain and to support more equitable, effective and person-centred care.
We congratulate all members of the PAINDIFF Network on this important publication and look forward to seeing these recommendations adopted across research, funding, publishing and policy, helping to advance more inclusive and impactful pain research.
