The Harmful Consequences of Ignoring Diversity in Medicine 

Ignoring diversity in medicine can lead to serious and harmful consequences that affect both individual patient care and the overall healthcare system. This is a global issue that demands immediate action. The consequences of ignoring diversity in medicine range from inequitable access to care, inaccurate diagnosis, and higher rates of misdiagnosis to reduced innovation, limited scientific progress, and a complete erosion of trust in healthcare systems. 

One of the most significant challenges stems from the lack of equitable inclusion in clinical trials. It is vital that patients’ enrollment in a clinical trial reflects the normal distribution of the disease in the real world: If 70% of female patients in the real world have Disease A for example, then 70% of participants in the clinical trial should also be female. Without this accurate representation and targeted analysis, it becomes impossible to understand how the treatment works in different sub-populations. 

Current drug development and clinical trials normally fail to reflect this diversity, putting some lives at risk, or at the very least robbing those lives of a healthy existence. This occurs when the therapy shows limited effectiveness and poses safety risks within underrepresented populations. 
 
Women are disproportionately impacted by the lack of sex- and gender-based research. Two notable examples illustrate this issue: First, regulatory agencies often withdraw therapies due to severe and potentially fatal adverse drug reactions, which predominantly affect women. Second, women of color, who have a higher predisposition to Alzheimer's disease, remain significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. 

The data shows, despite some note-worthy progress, that persistent lack of sex-, gender-, and race-specific insights in medical research remains. Consider: 

• Women's representation in drug trials fluctuates widely (40% in 2015, up to 72% in 2019, but back down to 56% in 2020), reflecting an unstable commitment to equity. 
• Black and Hispanic populations remain severely underrepresented in all clinical trials, even though certain conditions, like Alzheimer’s disease, or certain types of breast cancer, affect them at disproportionately higher rates. 
• Clinical trials fail to collect sex-specific and intersectional data—meaning we cannot fully understand how sex and race interact to influence drug responses. 
• Older adults (65+), the largest consumers of medications, are inconsistently included in trials, raising concerns about whether treatments are truly effective and safe for them. 

   
Our Initiative for Excellence and Precision in Science and Medicine 
We, the Women’s Brain Foundation, have been actively working for years to promote the incorporation of diversity in preclinical and clinical research. You now have a chance to support our cause. We are launching an initiative to reinforce the critical importance of considering sex, gender, race, and ethnicity in precision medicine. Ignoring these factors is not just poor science—it is negligence. 

Japan has long recognized this principle, setting a good example for others to follow. Any drug seeking market authorization in Japan must first prove its effectiveness and safety within the Japanese population. In an increasingly diverse world, it is imperative that all populations—across sex, gender, ethnicity, age and socioeconomic background—are effectively included in clinical trials, drug development, and health policies. 

True innovation and advancement in medicine requires us to embrace diversity—not merely as a value, but as a fundamental necessity for achieving better, safer, and more effective healthcare for all. 
  
The beautiful diversity of humankind—across sex, gender, race, and ethnicity—must be reflected in how we conduct science and drug development. Failing to do so is not just a scientific oversight—it puts lives at risk. 

📢 We call on everyone to take a stand! This is a matter of utmost urgency. We demand change.  Help us to help you, and yours. 

✅ If you are a scientist, commit to inclusive research that reflects real-world diversity.
✅ If you are a policymaker, ensure that sex-, gender-, and race-informed research is a mandatory standard in healthcare and drug development.
✅ If you are a patient, demand treatments that are designed and tested to work for people like you.
✅ If you are a leader, champion policies and investments that promote equitable healthcare for all.
✅ If you are a responsible citizen, join the movement to hold science and healthcare accountable to the needs of everyone.

This petition will be presented to the global leaders at the World Health Organization General Assembly (WHO GA) 2025 and beyond to drive actionable policies that mandate diversity in science, medicine, and drug development. 

📌 Sign now. Make your voice heard. Shape the future of medicine. Secure our future. 

This petition will be presented to global leaders at the World Health Organization General Assembly (WHO GA) 2025 and beyond to drive actionable policies that mandate diversity in science, medicine, and drug development.