Author: Anna Gine March

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is a call to rethink how science is produced, valued, and applied. This is particularly important in the field of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which both reflect and perpetuate deep global inequities. Advancing research, policy, and impact in NTDs requires the full and equitable participation of women and girls, especially those from the communities most affected by these diseases.

In the global health sector, about 75% of the workforce is female, yet women are overrepresented in lower-status roles and underrepresented in leadership and decision-making positions. Only 20% of global health organizations have gender-balanced boards, just two UN health agencies are led by women, and only 25% of health ministers or primary delegates to the World Health Assembly are female. This underrepresentation in leadership is mirrored in scientific research, where women still face significant barriers to recognition and career advancement.

Although women’s participation in science is gradually increasing, they still represent only about 30% of medical researchers worldwide. Women are less frequently credited for their contributions, limiting visibility and career advancement. They publish fewer articles than men, are less likely to be first or last author in high-impact journals, and their work receives fewer citations and less recognition. Between 2007 and 2022, only 33.1% of authors in high-impact medical journals (NEJM, JAMA, The Lancet, BMJ, Nature Medicine) were women, with men more likely to hold first or last author positions (18.1% vs. 16.8%). Authors from high-income countries also dominate these positions compared to those from low- and middle-income countries (16.9% vs. 15.5%). Productivity metrics such as the h-index consistently favour men across specialties and academic ranks. Women are also underrepresented in editorial and leadership roles in journals, perpetuating gaps in visibility and influence.

These disparities are reinforced by structural barriers such as unequal access to funding, mentorship, collaboration networks, and conference opportunities. For example, in infectious disease research in the United Kingdom (1997–2010), men received 78.5% of total funding (£1.786 billion) compared to 21.5% for women (£488 million), with median grants higher for men (£179,389 vs. £125,556). This funding gap remained largely unchanged over 14 years.

Such inequities reflect deeply entrenched barriers rather than differences in ability or commitment, and they have tangible effects on the research process itself. They influence which research questions are asked, which interventions are prioritized, and whose needs are addressed. Domestic responsibilities, implicit bias, and cultural norms limit the time and resources women can devote to research, affecting career progression and retention. Yet women scientists bring essential perspectives that improve both the design and implementation of NTD research. Studies show that research led or co-led by women is more likely to consider social determinants of health, power dynamics and lived experiences, critical factors for understanding disease exposure, treatment access, and the social consequences of NTDs.

This is especially important because women and girls often bear a disproportionate burden of NTDs due to intersecting social, economic, and gendered factors. Gendered divisions of labour, caregiving responsibilities, limited access to education and financial resources, and reduced autonomy in health decisions increase infection risk and delay diagnosis and treatment. Women and girls also face greater stigma, discrimination, and long-term social and economic consequences from NTD-related morbidity and disability. Despite this, they remain underrepresented in scientific leadership, research design, program implementation, and global health governance, weakening collective responses.

Addressing these challenges requires strong women’s leadership, particularly given the historical and structural dynamics of NTD knowledge production. Scientific agendas and funding have long been dominated by institutions in the Global North, often marginalizing local knowledge and community perspectives. Women scientists from endemic regions face intersecting barriers, including gender bias, racism, language obstacles, and unequal access to funding and publication opportunities. Research shows that publications with at least one female author are more likely to include contributors from low- and middle-income countries (11.7% vs. 10.4%), illustrating how equitable representation in one dimension can foster broader inclusive participation and strengthen local scientific capacity. These findings highlight the importance of actively supporting women and girls in science, which involves challenging extractive research models, investing in locally led and contextually grounded research, and dismantling the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequity.

Women’s influence extends beyond research into advocacy, policy, and community engagement, where their leadership strengthens health systems, builds trust in interventions such as mass drug administration, and ensures programs respond to the lived realities of affected communities. Evidence shows that including women in leadership and decision-making roles improves coverage, community acceptance, and equity in NTD programs. Visible women leaders in science and global health also serve as role models, showing girls that they too can occupy positions of knowledge production and decision-making. This visibility nurtures the next generation of women scientists and reinforces a structural approach to equity, where empowerment operates simultaneously as a scientific, social, and community-centred intervention.

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the NTD community must reaffirm gender equity as a scientific, ethical, and social justice imperative. Achieving this requires investing in mentorship, equitable funding, safe and inclusive research environments, and recognition of women’s contributions at all career stages. Empowering women and girls in science is essential not only to develop more effective, equitable, and sustainable solutions to neglected tropical diseases but also to reduce the structural inequities that sustain them.