VHIR holds its 2nd Pride in Research Day to promote diversity and inclusion in health research

The session, held at the VHIR Central Building, brought together professionals from different fields of research and scientific management to share experiences, present initiatives, and reflect on the integration of the LGTBIQA+ perspective in health research.

The event began with a welcome and the presentation of the VHIR LGTBIQA+ working group, which outlined the actions carried out over the past year to foster more inclusive work environments and raise awareness within the research community about the importance of diversity.

Projects to promote more inclusive research

During the session, two projects promoted by the working group were presented. Dr. Cristina Solé, principal investigator of the VHIR Rheumatology group, presented the project 'Sex-dependent biological determinants relevant to health', an initiative aimed at advancing towards a more precise, safe, and inclusive medical record by incorporating biologically relevant health information beyond administrative sex. This need affects both trans, intersex, and gender-diverse people, as well as cisgender individuals who, throughout their lives, have undergone bodily modifications due to surgery, treatments, or illness.

To identify which information is clinically useful and how it should be recorded in an ethical and respectful way, the project involved 61 participants from primary care, Vall d’Hebron Hospital, and the LGBTI+ community through focus groups and participatory qualitative analysis. The results show broad consensus that a system based solely on administrative sex is insufficient and may lead to clinical errors. Key proposals include the incorporation of a map of clinically relevant sexual organs, the use of a preferred name, and an optional gender identity field.

Next July, the project will begin a new co-creation phase with professionals and citizens to validate the proposals arising from the study. The goal is to produce, by October 2026, a set of recommendations and tools to guide possible implementation within the Catalan healthcare system. The project is funded by the Víctor Grífols i Lucas Foundation, to whom VHIR expresses its gratitude for their support.

For her part, Sara Mas, head of the Impact and RRI Office at VHIR, presented the project DEISa (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Health Research Institutions), funded under the IMPACTE 2023 call from AGAUR. This initiative aims to integrate gender and diversity perspectives into research, scientific policy, and human resources management at the institution. The project is aligned with the PRISMA Code of Practice and is structured around three main axes: fostering awareness among the research community about gender perspectives in research; assessing potential biases in clinical studies and research projects, particularly regarding access barriers and the inclusion of non-binary individuals and people who have experienced gender transition processes; and increasing the visibility of the LGTBIQA+ community on campus by promoting inclusive guidelines within teams and working groups.

Participation and commitment to diversity

The session continued with the participatory activity 'Assess the level of inclusivity at VHIR,' which collected feedback, experiences, and proposals from attendees to further advance towards a more diverse and inclusive institution.

With this second edition of the Pride in Research Day, VHIR reinforces its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion core values for ensuring excellent research that responds to the needs of society as a whole.