Romsey's MP recently joined top researchers to discuss pressing issues in government policy and the evidence behind them.

Evidence Week in Parliament is a unique event where voters ask questions and MPs and researchers seek out the answers.

Caroline Nokes MP said: “I was really pleased to meet a team from the University of Southampton to hear about their research titled Bias in Bones which promotes the integration of sex as a variable into skeletal health and research policy to improve gendered health inequalities.

"The project team has a list of objectives, which include improving the participation of men and women in research studies and trials, investment in the development of novel personalised therapies, and addressing bias which exists in preclinical and clinical skeletal study design by funding research where both sexes are investigated and appropriately reported.

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"It was fascinating to hear about their work first-hand, and to have a challenging discussion about some the issues around medical research and sex, and the evidence it may provide us in a range of different spheres.”

Started by the campaigning charity Sense about Science and the House of Commons Library, Evidence Week is run in partnership with the LSE, the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST), Ipsos MORI and the Office for Statistics Regulation.

During the week, MPs meet with leading researchers from across the UK to get the latest insights on pressing issues including housing, food supplies, energy, health and tackling inequality.

Tracey Brown, director of Sense about Science, said: “Evidence matters to people, and it is great that MPs including Caroline recognise this, and explore its use in policy.”