Human sensitivity to short-wavelength light in non-image-forming vision: Toward a mechanistic understanding of the impact of blue light on sleep and circadian rhythms (360G-Wellcome-204686_Z_16_A)

In chronobiology and sleep research, a significant proportion of past research studies examining the effects of light on the acute suppression of melatonin and on circadian photoentrainment have exclusively examined male participants, or naturally cycling female participants. The basis for this bias in participant recruitment is empirical evidence that the production of melatonin may be modulated by the menstrual cycle and, in this context, also by the use of hormonal contraceptives. To avoid these potentially confounding effects, exclusion criteria are typically used to exclude women who use hormonal contraceptives, thereby ignoring a large proportion of the population. The goal of this Diversity & Inclusion activity is to increase our knowledge on sex-based biases in the scientific literature on the non-visual effects of light. To this end, the project has two main objectives: (1) Developing the first systematic survey of sex representation in research studies on the non-visual effects of light. This will be accomplished using a pre-registered systematic review, using a well-defined database search strategy and standardised information extraction methods regarding the recruitment of men and women in these studies (sample size, proportion of female subjects, hormonal status). (2) Developing an open-access toolkit for researchers on addressing sex biases in participant recruitment in chronobiology and sleep studies, outlining the problem as well as practical solutions. This will be accomplished using a small round-table workshop of diverse invited junior and senior researchers in the field of chronobiology.