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Welcome to the OSSD!

The Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) is a scientific membership organization that seeks to enhance knowledge of sex/gender differences by facilitating interdisciplinary communication and collaboration among scientists and clinicians of diverse backgrounds.

Most diseases differ in males and females. Often, one sex is partially protected from a disease because of biological or environmental factors. It is important to understand these sex differences, to discover and enhance sex-biasing factors that protect from disease, and to develop optimal therapies for women and men.

The OSSD was founded in 2006 by member scientists and staff of the Society for Women's Health Research (see History). From 2006-2012, OSSD operated as a program of the SWHR, and in 2012 became an independent non-profit educational organization. The OSSD gratefully acknowledges the efforts of the SWHR in the creation, staffing, and funding of OSSD in its early years and recognizes the integral leadership role of SWHR in promoting the study of sex differences and advocating for sex difference research since 1990.

The Benefits of OSSD Membership

There are many great reasons to join or renew your membership with the OSSD.  Here are just a few:

  • The OSSD is a unique organization, fostering research on sex differences across tissues and diseases.
  • Our Annual Meeting is fantastic and members participate at reduced rates.
  • We strongly support our trainees with numerous travel and poster awards.
  • The Biology of Sex Differences, the OSSD's official journal, continues to gain visibility and prominence.
Join the OSSD Today

Latest News

  • The Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) solicits applications for the position of Editor‐in‐Chief (EIC) of Biology of Sex Differences (BSD), the official journal of the OSSD and a publication of the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) and BioMed Central (BMC). Applications should be received no later than September 15, 2017. Download the complete Call for Applications for additional information.
  • The Berlin Institute for Health in cooperation with the Institute of Gender in Medicine announces the BIH Excellence Award for Sex and Gender Aspects in Health Research for the first time in 2017. The award aims to bring more visibility to sex and gender issues in translational research. It recognizes research excellence among renowned scientists working in the field of basic and/or clinical biomedical research with a focus on sex and gender aspects. The winner of the award will receive 20.000€ for use on future research activities with a focus on sex and/or gender aspects. The application deadline is October 15, 2017. For more information, visit www.bihealth.org/en/award.
  • Check out two important 'Viewpoints' published in JAMA this week on the consideration and reporting of sex and gender in medicine and clinical research (Oct 31st).
  • The Biology of Sex Differences has just published a supplement entitled, 'Sex and Gender in Medical Education', proceedings from the 2015 Sex and Gender Summit.
Read our Newsletter