The 21 members of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) are set to implement strategies to eliminate gender bias in scientific research. Women, Research and Universities: Excellence Without Gender Bias, a LERU report published on 10 July, outlines recommendations for universities, funders, policy-makers and publishers to improve gender balance across the European Union. Institutions have agreed to create and launch action plans to mitigate bias, and set up gender-equality offices. A LERU target group will meet this November and annually from next spring to monitor progress, says Kurt Deketelaere, secretary-general of LERU in Leuven, Belgium. The European Commission is using the report in its construction of the European Research Area (see 'Research area first steps').