Of Mice and Women: The Bias in Animal Models.

MOBBS, Charles; VOSKUHL, Rhonda; CLEGG, Deborah

The article discusses the use of male animal models in U.S. biomedical research which creates a sex bias, the issue of sex differences in human diseases, and the generalizability of research results across the sexes. The rationale for using male rats and mice instead of female animals in basic research is mentioned in the context of funding and physiology. Drug safety and effectiveness in women when preclinical testing did not include female animal models is questioned. The views of researchers Charles Mobbs, Rhonda Voskuhl, and Deborah Clegg are mentioned.