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Impact of Gender and Sex on Innovation and Novel Technologies (iGIANT)

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There is increasing evidence of differences between men and women in almost all health conditions.  As noted by the Institute of Medicine, these differences can be related to both sex (genetic or gonadal component) and/or gender (social construct).  These differences are especially noted in the musculoskeletal system, such as:
  1. increased incidence of osteoporosis among women but lower likelihood of bone health evaluation or treatment after a low-impact fracture among men
  2. increased incidence of inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis among women
  3. different outcomes between men and women after joint arthroplasty
  4. increased risk of adolescent scoliosis among girls
  5. increased risk of open fractures and other high-energy injuries among men
  6. differences in military-related injuries
  7. increased risk of non-contact ACL injuries among girls, differing ACL prevention measures between males and females, and increased risk of early-onset of osteoarthritis among women
  8. differing incidences and outcomes in a variety of neoplastic conditions  
These differences between men and women are now being addressed by a project called iGIANT (Impact of Gender and Sex on Innovation and Novel Technologies), started by a senior health advisor to The White House. iGIANT is targeted at all sectors of the population, not just health issues. After an initial meeting of interested groups in Washington, sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services in July 2015, there has been a request that all organizations who participated reach out to their constituents and organize round table discussions, to assess the current level of knowledge and research in this area, what groups see as the most needed areas of future research and development, and how groups can work together to move the needle in this area.

The USBJI was asked to participate in this initiative.  Members of USBJI organizations were invited to join in a round table discussion via teleconference in November 2015.  USBJI iGIANT Task Force - November meeting notes.
Members of Task Force
 

Papers and Articles on Sex and Gender:

September Newsletter with article on  iGIANT.
December Newsletter with article on iGIANT.
 
Spinal News International - May 2017, article on The criticality of gender specific medicine in spine health. Written by: Janice Werbinski is associate clinical professor emerita in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Western Michigan University Homer R Stryker MD School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, USA. Kimberly Templeton is professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA and president of the American Medical Women’s Association