A recently published study by researchers from the ReNEU team at ICVS shows that males and females exhibit distinct immune responses following spinal cord injury, highlighting the importance of considering biological sex in research on this condition.
The study, with Sara Rito-Fernandes as first author and led by Susana Monteiro and Nuno Silva, identified differences in the inflammatory response between males and females. This finding is particularly relevant because, although spinal cord injury predominantly affects men, especially in younger age groups, many preclinical studies continue to be conducted exclusively in female animals.
These results reinforce the importance of including both sexes in preclinical research and may contribute to a better understanding of spinal cord injury and to the development of more effective and personalised therapeutic strategies.
Learn more about this study in the full article: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1811925/full
