Gender Diversity and Health Research

Provides services for research focused on transgender medicine, across the translational research spectrum.

Since 2017, the Pediatric and Adult Transgender Centers at Washington University have seen > 1700 transgender and gender-diverse patients. The Centers include an interdisciplinary group featuring endocrinology, adolescent medicine, breast and plastic surgery, urology, ENT surgery, speech therapy, reproductive health and fertility, dermatology, infectious disease, trans-affirmative gynecologic care, psychology, psychiatry, and social work.  

Transgender and gender-diverse people suffer marginalization in society, healthcare, and research, and as such, significant health disparities exist. To achieve health equity for this population, we must dedicate resources to develop, conduct, and disseminate T1-T4 research that centers the needs of this community.  

These services include: 

  • Study design review by Transgender Research Evaluation Committee (TREC) and the Community Advisory Board (CAB) if not doing secondary analysis already approved.
  • Study design review by TREC to ensure appropriateness and safety for the study population.
  • Pilot funds for external data to do research in this space (e.g. PRIDE).
  • Evaluation of study proposals by the CAB to assess the significance of proposed research for the community, foster key stakeholder engagement, and plan for community-centered dissemination of findings.
Current Studies
  • WashU Medicine Adult Transgender Center Database (PI: Dr. Cynthia Herrick): This study aims to create a quality assurance data registry for patients seen at the WashU Medicine Adult Transgender Clinic. Transgender and gender non-conforming patients 18 years or older are eligible for enrollment in this study. Participants are asked to complete a baseline survey and an additional survey annually to collect information on their gender transition, health information, and social information. Data collected in these surveys will be linked with electronic health record data pulled from Epic.

    You may be eligible if you are 18 years or older and are a current patient of the Washington University School of Medicine Transgender Center. Please contact Gretta Strand at g.strand@wustl.edu or 314-273-6879 if you are interested in being a part of this study.
  • Changes in Metabolic Milieu After Initiation of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy in Transgender Young Adults: The Snapshot Study (PI: Dr. Samuel Cortez): This study aims to analyze the sex-specific metabolic phenotype (glucose balance, insulin sensitivity, lipid panel, and metabolomics) of transgender young adults ages 18-35 before initiation of gender affirming hormone therapy and 6 months after initiation. Study procedures include survey measures and lab measures at baseline and 6 months.

    You may be eligible if you are a transgender female ages 18-35 who is interested in starting gender affirming hormone therapy, and has never been on hormone therapy before. Please contact Gretta Strand at g.strand@wustl.edu or 314-273-6879 if you are interested in being a part of this study.
  • Giving Standardized Estradiol Therapy In Transgender Women to Research Interactions with HIV Therapy: The GET IT RIgHT Study (PI: Dr. Sashwatee Bagchi): This study is investigating how medication for the treatment of HIV interacts with gender affirming hormone therapy with Estradiol. Patients who are 18 years or older, assigned male at birth, are living with HIV, and are interested in starting feminizing hormones are eligible to participate.

    Please contact Delaney Carani at c.delaney@wustl.edu if you are interested in being a part of this study.
Previous Studies
  • Disordered eating, food insecurity, and weight status among transgender and gender nonbinary youth and young adults: A cross-sectional study using a nutrition screening protocol. (Linsenmeyer et al., 2021). View published paper.
  • An examination of the sex-specific nature of nutrition assessment within the nutrition care process: Considerations for nutrition and dietetics practitioners working with transgender and gender diverse clients. (Linsenmeyer, Garwood, & Waters, 2022). View published paper.
  • Validation of the nine-item avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder screen among transgender and nonbinary youth and young adults. (Zickgraf et al., 2023). View published paper.
  • Patient-Centered Approaches to Using BMI to Evaluate Gender-Affirming Surgery Eligibility. (Linsenmeyer & Garwood, 2023). View published paper.
  • Validation of the adolescent binge eating disorder measure (ADO-BED) among transgender youth and young adults. (Linsenmeyer et al., 2023). View published paper.
  • The Sick, Control, One Stone, Fat, Food (SCOFF) is a Valid Eating Disorder Questionnaire to Use With Transgender Youth. (Linsenmeyer et al., 2024). View published paper.
  • Effectiveness and Safety of Different Estradiol Regimens in Transgender Women (TREAT Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. (Cortez et al., 2023). View published paper.
  • Mental health diagnoses and suicidality among transgender youth in Hospital settings. (Nunes-Moreno et al., 2024). View published paper.
  • Effectiveness and Safety of Different Estradiol Regimens in Transgender Females. A Randomized Controlled Trial. (Cortez et al., 2024). View published paper.
  • Assessment of sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics of transgender adults seen at a Midwest tertiary medical center. (Cortez et al., 2024). View published paper.
  • Body Mass Index and Surgical Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Gender-affirming Surgeries. (Linsenmeyer, Stiles, & Walcott, 2024).
Process for Research Submission

Stage 1: Solicit Feedback

  1. Researcher sends proposal to TREC at genderdiversitycore@wustl.edu.
  2. TREC administrator conducts initial filter. If there are major issues at this step, TREC administrator returns proposal to researcher with feedback.
  3. TREC administrator sends proposal to TREC group and CAB for review.
  4. TREC and CAB provide researcher feedback at next monthly TREC meeting.

Stage 2: Integrate Feedback

  • Researcher updates research proposal based on feedback.
  • Researcher clarifies questions or concerns with TREC administrator if there are any.

Stage 3: Make Decision

  • Researcher sends revised proposal to TREC.
  • TREC provides final feedback and consent to move forward with project digitally.
  • If there are objections, TREC administrator works with researcher and objecting TREC member(s) to reconcile.
  • TREC administrator communicates feedback and decision outcome to researcher.
  • Final proposal and overview of changes made sent to TREC and CAB.
Contact

Any questions about the Gender Diversity and Health Research Core or submitting relevant research should be directed to genderdiversitycore@wustl.edu.