The 3rd edition of the Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) Biennial Symposium will take place at the University of Zurich on June 23–24, 2026, following the successful 2022 and 2024 meetings at the University of Bern.
SABV 2026 will bring together leading national and international experts to explore the critical role of biological sex in research. The symposium will demonstrate why and how incorporating sex as a biological variable enhances scientific rigor, strengthens biomedical research, and improves translational outcomes across disciplines.
The program (link) will cover the biological basis of sex differences, their underlying mechanisms, and functional importance in health and disease. Sessions will provide practical guidance for integrating biological sex into study design, with a special focus on hormone-sensitive stages of female reproductive life and their links to disease risk.
The Symposium are co-organized by the EU-SABV COST Action (CA24168), the European Initiative to Enhance the Current SABV Policy in Preclinical Biomedical Research, funded by the European Union through the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST).