Editorial: Women in gastrointestinal and hepatic pharmacology: 2024

Gender inequality remains a persistent challenge across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including within the scientific research enterprise itself. Recent global analyses indicate that, although women represent a substantial proportion of university graduates and nearly half of doctoral degree holders, they remain underrepresented in the research workforce and are less likely to occupy senior academic positions, reflecting a wellestablished "leaky pipeline" (European Research Executive Agency, 2026).Structural factors such as implicit bias, unequal access to funding and leadership opportunities, and the cumulative impact of caregiving responsibilities continue to shape academic trajectories. These disparities are driven by systemic inequities embedded within academic culture and evaluation systems (Cherian et al., 2024).Within the life sciences and health-related fields, this pattern persists, with women less frequently represented in positions of authority, senior authorship, and decision-making roles. Studies examining scientific authorship and productivity demonstrate that women remain underrepresented as first and last authors, reinforcing disparities in visibility and recognition (Hennessey et al., 2026). Concurrently, a growing body of evidence highlights that diverse scientific teams foster greater innovation, creativity, and problem-solving capacity, underscoring that gender equity is not only a matter of fairness but also a key driver of scientific excellence (García-Silva et al., 2025). Addressing these imbalances requires institutional efforts and structural reforms aimed at promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion across all levels of the scientific workforce.In this context, initiatives that actively promote the visibility and leadership of women in science are essential. The Research Topic "Women in This Research Topic highlights both scientific advances and the essential contributions of women in gastrointestinal and hepatic pharmacology. Initiatives like this are key to increasing visibility, promoting equity, and fostering a more inclusive and innovative scientific community.