What are the goals and expectations of AJP-Heart and Circulatory Physiology over the next several years to optimize rigorous approaches to consideration of sex and gender as a biological variable in cardiovascular research? Consulting Editor Nisha Charkoudian (U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine) interviews the entire AJP-Heart and Circ editorial team in this pivotal episode of The AJP-Heart and Circ Podcast. Listen as Editor-in-Chief Merry Lindsey (University of Nebraska Medical Center), Deputy Editor Zamaneh Kassiri (University of Alberta), and Associate Editors Keith Brunt (Dalhousie University), Jason Carter (Montana State University), Jonathan Kirk (Loyola University Chicago), Petra Kleinbongard (University of Duisburg-Essen Medical School), Amanda Jo LeBlanc (University of Louisville), Crystal Ripplinger (University of California-Davis) and Executive Editor Kara Hansell Keehan (American Physiological Society) discuss their recent editorial on expectations for use of sex and gender in cardiovascular research published in AJP-Heart and Circ. The editorial team first assessed reporting of sex and gender in AJP-Heart and Circ articles, and found that, while most studies did report sex/gender, most studies did not use both sexes/genders. By January 2023, AJP-Heart and Circ expects authors to use both sexes/genders in studies submitted to the journal, unless there is strong scientific justification otherwise. What constitutes “strong scientific justification”? Do studies need to be sufficiently powered to detect sex differences? How should authors analyze aggregate data? We tackle these questions in the context of human physiology, small and large animal models, and cell physiology. Why use both sexes/genders? “Put simply, it’s only going to make the research stronger,” stated Jason Carter. This is a must-listen episode!

Merry L. Lindsey, Amanda J. LeBlanc, Crystal M. Ripplinger, Jason R. Carter, Jonathan A. Kirk, Kara Hansell Keehan, Keith R. Brunt, Petra Kleinbongard, and Zamaneh Kassiri Reinforcing rigor and reproducibility expectations for use of sex and gender in cardiovascular research   Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published September 15, 2021. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00418.2021