FENS 2020 | Drug discovery: including female animals in preclinical studies

Debra Bangasser, PhD, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, discusses the impact of under-representation of females in drug development. Historically, the standard practice has been to use male animals, but as Dr Bangasser explains, molecular processes can be sex-specific; therefore, there is no guarantee that drugs designed for males will work well in females. Besides, by excluding females from preclinical studies, researchers might miss potential new targets for drug development. This interview was recorded during an online conference call with The Video Journal of Neurology (VJNeurology).