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The article focuses on the establishment of the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR) to advance autoimmune disease research. Topics include the prevalence and impact of autoimmune diseases; challenges in studying environmental exposures and their link to autoimmune conditions; and the strategic initiatives and funding priorities of the OADR to enhance research and address gaps in the field.

The article discusses the importance of understanding the exposome in autoimmune diseases, highlighting the complex interactions between genetic factors and environmental exposures. Women have a higher risk of autoimmune diseases than men, and factors such as inactivation of additional X chromosomes and exposures during different life stages may play a role. Initiatives such as the EXACT Network and the Center for Exposome Research Coordination aim to advance exposome research in autoimmune diseases, with the goal of improving diagnostic testing, treatment, and preventive interventions for these conditions. [Extracted from the article]

The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)'s whole health paradigm expands the scope of women's health research, incorporating a life‐course perspective that recognizes the profound influences of sex and gender on health. From childhood through adulthood, external and societal factors along with internal factors and biology shape women's health and influence access to quality healthcare. This comprehensive approach integrates data‐driven sex‐ and gender‐aware strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease, focusing on the unique needs of women. Acknowledging the historical lack of timely research and data on women's health, an initiative led by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and the White House Gender Policy Council, ushers in a new era of women's health research that offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance the health of women through biomedical and behavioral research. The initiative fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting research on autoimmune diseases, menopause, oral health, and chronic pain conditions. ORWH serves as the focal point for National Institutes of Health (NIH) women's health research. With a commitment to advancing holistic outcomes, ORWH engages in partnerships, outreach, and educational initiatives to disseminate critical research findings and support women's health researchers. Here we describe the convergence of this initiative with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research's work to advance the understanding of sex as a biological variable for conditions such as Sjogren's disease and temporomandibular disorder. This transformative approach to women's health research propels the United States toward innovative solutions, ensuring that science works for the health and well‐being of every woman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In May 2014, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it will ensure that investigators account for sex as a biological variable (SABV) in NIHfunded preclinical research as part of the agency's rigor and transparency initiative. Herein, I describe in more detail the rationale behind the SABV policy component and provide additional detail about policy goals. In short, studying both sexes is a guiding principle in biomedical research that will expand knowledge toward turning discovery into health.NIH expects that considering SABV in preclinical research will help to build a knowledge base that better informs the design of clinical research and trials in humans. Integrating the practice of studying both sexes in preclinical research will, over time, expand our currently incomplete knowledge base that plays a critical role in informing the development of sexand gender-appropriatemedical care forwomenandmen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granulocyte donors routinely receive dexamethasone orally before donation. Steroids may increase the risk of posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC) formation. We recruited 100 granulocyte donors (four or more granulocyte donations; any number of platelet [PLT] donations) and 100 age- and sex-matched PLT donors (zero to three granulocyte donations, any number of PLT donations) to examine the risk of PSC. PSC was assessed by a masked ophthalmologist and reading center lens photograph gradings or medical record documentation of PSC as the reason for cataract extraction. Fourteen eyes of 10 granulocyte donors and five eyes of four PLT donors had PSCs (odds ratio [OR], 2.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-9.61; p = 0.10). Risk of PSC increased with number of granulocyte donations: compared to zero to three donations (4.0%), the risk for four to nine, 10 to 19, and 20 or more donations was 8.6% (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 0.31-13.99; p = 0.30), 9.5% (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 0.44-14.20; p = 0.21), and 13.0% (OR, 3.60; 95% CI, 0.48-22.81; p = 0.11), respectively (p = 0.06 for trend). We did not demonstrate a statistically significant increased risk of PSC associated with granulocyte donation. However, although this makes a large risk unlikely, we cannot rule out a small to moderate risk and there is biologic plausibility that the steroid administration associated with granulocyte donation could be associated with PSC formation. Transfusion medicine professionals should advise granulocyte apheresis donors to maintain an appropriate frequency of eye examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]