From March 11–13, Director of Operations Lathika Laguwaran participated in the 3rd International Meeting of the Canadian Organization for Gender and Sex Research (COGS). This year’s theme, “Sex, Gender and Health: Catalyzing Change in an Evolving World,” brought together a diverse community of researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and community leaders committed to advancing equity in health.
The meeting provided a platform to advance emerging research on how sex and gender shape health outcomes, while fostering collaboration across disciplines and sectors working to strengthen equity-informed science and policy.
Reflecting on the discussions, Lathika noted the importance of better understanding the complex relationship between sex and gender in research. “They influence each other constantly, and trying to separate them often oversimplifies what’s really happening,” she shared. Sessions highlighted the growing need for innovative and interdisciplinary research approaches that can better capture this complexity and generate evidence to inform more equitable health policies for men, women, and gender-diverse populations.
In addition to engaging with new research, the conference offered valuable opportunities for professional exchange and mentorship. As a trainee, Lathika valued the opportunity to connect with mentors and learn from their career journeys. “A theme that came up again and again was the value of networks and collaboration,” she said. “So much of this work depends on learning from each other — we do ourselves a disservice when we stay in silos.”
Participation in forums such as COGS supports the Lab’s ongoing commitment to strengthening interdisciplinary dialogue and advancing evidence-informed approaches to gender-responsive health research and policy.
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