Diversity, equity, and inclusion are often espoused as core values within organizations.  In scientific endeavors specifically, focus on these values often leads to asking critical questions that start with the word “who.” 

• Who has access and exposure to experiences that lead to interest in research? 
• Who is in lab performing the research work? 
• Who can get resources to support their work?

These important questions should lead us to create structures that provide equitable access and opportunity to historically excluded groups to engage in and benefit from research work. In biomedical research, we cannot stop there.

To ensure that everyone benefits from our work, we must push one step further.  We must continue to be intentional about who is doing the research while also asking questions about how we do research and whether it is inclusive. Historically, efforts at inclusion within health fields have focused on clinical trial design to ensure diversity in sex and ancestry [1, 2, 3], given the history of systemic exclusion of women and people from minoritized racial and ethnic groups in clinical trials [4]. However, as a matter of inclusion and ethics, we must start sooner. Intentionally inclusive scientific design must begin long before a patient is in the room. Why? Here are just a few of examples directly relevant to our work within CELL-MET. 

• There are known differences in efficiency in cell reprogramming associated with cell sex and cell ancestry [5, 6].
• There is evidence that extracellular matrix production differs with sex of cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells [7]. 
• Cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells demonstrate differences in pharmacological responses associated with both cell sex and cell ancestry [8, 9].

Distinctions in fundamental behavior and response at the cellular level are beginning to be uncovered. Even without such distinctions, it is critical that our scientific work does not perpetuate historical exclusion.This knowledge presents us with an opportunity (and moral imperative) to generate tissues for in vitro modeling and for eventual therapeutic applications that provide the same health benefits for all. As a center, we’ve expressed a commitment to creating and maintaining a culture of inclusion – achieving this requires that we consider inclusion in our interpersonal interactions, in our policies and procedures, and in the fundamental research that we do.