Closing the Data Gap in Female Health: Ancient + Brave x Loughborough University
3 Min read
At Ancient + Brave, our mission is to provide you with credible wellness products backed by science.
In this journal, we introduce our latest research partnership with the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University, and explain how, together, we are helping to close the data gap on female wellbeing.
What is the female wellbeing data gap?
The data gap in female wellbeing is a growing issue in both the UK and the EU.
Arising from a historical bias that meant the male body was the main focus of medical research, its legacy has led to a ‘gap’ in knowledge that may be hindering our understanding of female health concerns and how we manage them.
This was powerfully documented in Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez (2019, Chatto & Windus). The book highlights how everything from seatbelt design to clinical drug trials has historically been modelled on the male body, leaving a significant blind spot in our understanding of female health.
This imbalance has led to a lack of evidence about how women’s unique physiology, across the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and beyond, affects every aspect of our health. It’s a gap that still limits how health products, including dietary supplements, are designed, tested, and recommended today.
Less than 10% of sports and nutrition studies focus exclusively on women. (Costello et al., 2014, Sports Medicine)
That’s why we chose to partner with Loughborough University, renowned globally for its world-leading expertise in nutrition and exercise science. Loughborough also has a dedicated commitment to female wellbeing. Its Women in Sport Hub is a multi-disciplinary, multi-million-pound initiative that brings together top experts in sport science, nutrition, technology, and design to understand and address the unique needs of women.
Why we’re taking action
As a female-founded wellbeing brand grounded by science, we believe that data is a powerful tool in helping women to live well.
To help bridge the gender health gap, we’ve partnered with Loughborough University’s leading research team to uncover new data around the impact that targeted nutrition support from the ingredients in our product range, including True Collagen, True Biome and True Omegas, has on resilience and recovery, particularly regarding women’s health.
Meet the research team
Dr Jenna Macciochi, Director of Science & Innovation at Ancient + Brave
This research project is being led by our very own Dr Jenna Macciochi. A published author and Director of Science + Innovation at Ancient + Brave, she ensures that every product is backed by rigorous science.
An internationally recognised authority on exercise recovery and performance nutrition, Tom will guide the study design and oversee all aspects of the research.
“In developing our collaboration with Ancient and Brave, I was immediately attracted to their unique product range – they offer a range of functional foods and supplement blends not available elsewhere.
I was also attracted to their commitment to science and innovation, ensuring their products are backed by science and real-world lived experience. Their products are all designed to have a positive impact on health and wellbeing, and I am very excited to help drive forward their scientific research agenda”, Dr Tom Clifford.
Chloe Errington (BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science)
Our first Ancient + Brave–funded PhD Fellow, Chloe, holds a first-class degree in Sport & Exercise Science with Performance Nutrition and will drive new studies from the ground up.
Stay in the loop
We’re excited to unlock valuable new data to support female-to-female health and hope to share the results of this significant study with you soon.
To be amongst the first to see the results, be sure to subscribe to our emails and keep following the discoveries and Insights shared via our Science Hub.
References
Loughborough University. (2024) New multi-million-pound research and innovation hub will transform the landscape of women’s sport
Criado Perez, C. (2019). Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. London: Chatto & Windus.
