National Institute on Aging Workshop on Sex Differences in Health Across the Lifespan
In December 2025, the Division of Aging Biology convened a workshop to explore mechanistic bases and health effects of sex differences across tissues and ages.
On December 17–18, 2025, the Division of Aging Biology at the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), organized a workshop to examine sex differences in health outcomes throughout the human lifespan. The event brought together researchers from NIA divisions, other NIH institutes, and the Veterans Health Administration to discuss emerging mechanistic insights into how biological sex influences aging trajectories and disease susceptibility. Participants reviewed recent findings that highlight distinct physiological responses between males and females across multiple organ systems.
The workshop focused on identifying novel research discoveries, technologies, and visualizations that clarify the underlying mechanisms driving these differences. Presentations covered topics including genomic regulation, epigenetic modifications, and tissue-specific signaling pathways that vary by sex. Experts emphasized the importance of integrating sex as a biological variable into aging research to improve translational outcomes for both male and female populations.
Collaborative efforts were highlighted, particularly in understanding how sex differences manifest in neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular health, and metabolic disorders. The discussion underscored the need for standardized methodologies to assess sex-specific biomarkers and therapeutic responses. Participants agreed that current research gaps require targeted funding and interdisciplinary approaches to fully characterize these disparities.
The workshop concluded with a consensus on the necessity of incorporating sex differences into clinical trial designs and preclinical models. This alignment supports more precise interventions and personalized medicine strategies tailored to biological sex. The Division of Aging Biology plans to disseminate key findings through updated research guidelines and future grant opportunities focused on this critical area of study.
This briefing is provided for laboratory research use only. Peptides and related reagents discussed in the context of aging biology are intended solely for scientific investigation and must be handled according to institutional biosafety and ethical standards.