August 22, 2006 - A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that more women are taking leadership roles in medical research. The study analyzed the number of women listed as lead or senior authors on papers published in the top U.S. medical journals.

According to the study, women listed as the lead author on medical research papers rose from 6 percent in 1970 to 29 percent in 2004. Likewise, women listed as senior authors also increased, from 4 percent in 1970 to 19 percent in 2004. The number of women invited to write editorials rose significantly as well. For instance, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the percentage of editorials written by women has increased from zero in 1980 to 19 percent in 2004. Similarly, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that only 1.5 percent of its editorials were authored by women in 1970, but this proportion rose to 20 percent in 2000.

Several National Academies reports look at women's participation in science and engineering. To Recruit and Advance: Women Students and Faculty in U.S. Science and Engineering identifies useful strategies for aiding recruitment, retention, and promotion of female students and faculty in science and engineering. Opportunities to Address Clinical Research Workforce Diversity Needs for 2010 discusses ways to recruit and retain more women and minorities into the clinical research workforce. From Scarcity to Visibility: Gender Differences in the Careers of Doctoral Scientists and Engineers examines the differences in career outcomes between men and women in science and engineering careers over the course of the 1970s to 1990s.

• To Recruit and Advance: Women Students and Faculty in U.S. Science and Engineering (2006)
• Opportunities to Address Clinical Research Workforce Diversity Needs for 2010 (2006)
• From Scarcity to Visibility: Gender Differences in the Careers of Doctoral Scientists and Engineers (2001)

• New England Journal of Medicine Study Abstract
• National Academies Committee on Women in Science and Engineering