Other Research
In recent years, we have welcomed an increase in the number of research projects and publications related to transgender and gender diverse health from groups around the United States and the world. Nonetheless, there remain many gaps in knowledge
related to the health of this community:
- long-term effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy in adolescents all the way through older adulthood,
- patient-reported outcomes of gender-affirming surgery,
- and improving best practices for health care access and delivery.
Our researcher team includes faculty, staff and learners at University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, UCHealth and Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In collaboration with our Community Advisory Board, we strive to conduct research projects (approved by our Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board) that are informed by the local transgender and gender diverse community and have beneficial implications for improved health and outcomes in our patient population.
Local, national and international organizations have funded projects, putting Colorado on the map as a leader in transgender and gender diverse-related research.
Interested in participating in a transgender or other research study? Visit the Participate in Research Studies website.
| PI | COMIRB #/Status | Study Title | Study Summary | Professional Research Assistant/Study coordinator |
| Neill Epperson, MD | 18-1740 Active | MY TRANSGENDER BRAIN STUDY (MyT “MIGHTY” BRAIN) | Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine want to learn more about how gender-affirming hormone therapy (testosterone) affects thinking and behavior in transgender males and transmasculine non-binary individuals. The goal of this study is to contribute to the existing medical knowledge and to help clinicians better understand and treat transgender individuals and the LGBTQ+ community. You may be eligible if you are:
Study participants will:
*Compensation for time and parking vouchers will be provided. | Interested? Fill out this initial survey > If you have more questions about the study, call us at 303-724-1808 or mytbrain@ucdenver.edu. We are located at Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO 80045 |
| Sean Iwamoto, MD | 18-2258 Active | Novel Evaluations of Aging and Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Vascular Endothelial Function and Metabolic Profiles in Transgender Women Compared to Age Group-Matched Cisgender Adults | We are studying the effects of taking long-term feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy (>1 year) on the blood vessels and metabolic health in younger (18-40 years old) and older (50-75 years old) transgender women who have not had orchiectomy. | Mary Mancuso, MA |
| Sean Iwamoto, MD | 19-2323 Active | Novel Evaluations of Aging and Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Vascular Endothelial Function and Metabolic Profiles in Transgender Men Compared to Age Group-Matched Transgender Women and Cisgender Adults | We are studying the effects of taking long-term masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy (>1 year) on the blood vessels and metabolic health in younger (18-40 years old) and older (50-75 years old) transgender men who have not had hysterectomy/oophorectomy. | Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04237467 Mary Mancuso, MA |
| Sean Iwamoto, MD | 20-0104 Active | The impact of feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy on biomarkers of coagulation and thrombosis | In folks starting estrogen and spironolactone, we will follow blood tests for one year to help us learn more about blood clot risk. | Mary Mancuso, MA mary.mancuso@cuanschutz.edu 303-724-5729 |
| Sean Iwamoto, MD | 20-2141 Active | The Effects of Orchiectomy and Age on Vascular and Metabolic Health in Older versus Younger Transgender Women | The global aim of this study is to characterize cardiometabolic risk (measured by vascular, metabolic and biochemical factors—which have not been extensively studied prospectively) in trans women before and after orchiectomy (baseline, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months) and whether age group (“older” [aged 45 years and older] vs. “younger” [aged 18-44 years]) modulates these factors. The effect of orchiectomy on CVD risk among trans women is unknown, but orchiectomy may change blood vessel function and metabolic health. We will examine blood vessel function and metabolic profiles of trans women before and at several timepoints after orchiectomy to identify age-related differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This knowledge may lead to new approaches to prevent CVD in trans women as well as all people regardless of gender identity. | Mary Mancuso, MA mary.mancuso@cuanschutz.edu 303-724-5729 |
| Christodoulos Kaoutzanis, MD | 20-0824 Ongoing Enrollment | Prospective Evaluation of Patient Reported Outcomes Following Gender Affirming Surgery | Multidisciplinary care for transgender population includes medical and surgical therapy, as well as mental health services. The objectives of the study are to assess transgender patient’s assessment of self before and after undergoing gender affirming surgery. | Leela Mundra, MD leela.munda@cuanschutz.edu 305-857-7707 |
| Christodoulos Kaoutzanis, MD | 20-2660 (IRB exempt) Complete | Prospective Evaluation of Transgender Patient’s Perception on Gender-Affirming Terminology | Gender-affirming surgery is a relatively new and rapidly-growing domain in plastic surgery. The language used to describe gender-affirming surgery has been influenced not only by scientific terminology, but also by cultural influences. The objective of the study was to investigate the terminology deemed to be professional and unprofessional as determined by the transgender community. | Leela Mundra, MD leela.munda@cuanschutz.edu 305-857-7707 |
Danielle Loeb, MD | Active | Our Community, Our Health Database: Characterizing Health Outcomes for Transgender and Gender Diverse Patients of UCHealth Integrated Transgender Program (UCH ITP) and Children’s Hospital Colorado TRUE Center for Gender Diversity (TRUE) | The overarching objective is to focus on the investigation of the data quality in the CHCO OMOP database and the Health Data Compass (HDC) UCHealth OMOP database for the purposes of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) patient research which include obtaining and validating data. Our goal is to create a research database, to be called “Our Community, Our Health (OCOH).” Data for this database will be comprised of data collected during routine clinical care, commonly referred to as secondary data, from patients seen at UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO). Both CHCO and UCHealth are leaders in TGD care. UCHealth has the Integrated Transgender Program (UCHealth ITP) and CHCO has the TRUE (Trust, Respect, Understand, Emerge) Center for Gender Diversity. The target population for the OCOH research database will be all UCHealth and CHCO patients receiving care for gender dysphoria and associated conditions. | Danielle Kline, MS Danielle.kline@cuanschutz.edu 303-724-7410 |
Natalie Nokoff, MD | 20-2795 Ongoing Recruiting | Research Priorities of Gender Diverse Individuals | This is a survey to understand the research priorities of patients at the TRUE Center and UC Health Integrated Transgender Program. | Contact person: Natalie Nokoff, MD Natalie.Nokoff@childrenscolorado.org |
| Natalie Nokoff, MD | 19-2109 Ongoing Recruiting | The effects of puberty and pubertal suppression on insulin sensitivity, metabolic rate and vascular health | Evaluate insulin sensitivity, body composition and metabolic rate in transgender youth before and after gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue therapy and compared to matched cisgender youth | Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04482374 Contact person: Natalie.Nokoff@childrenscolorado.org or Syd Staggs |
| Natalie Nokoff, MD | 19-1226 Ongoing Recruiting | Pubertal Blockade and Estradiol Effects on Cardiometabolic Health for Transitioning Youth (PUBERTY) | Evaluate effects of pubertal suppression and estradiol on cardiometabolic health in transgender youth | Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04596592 Contact person: Natalie Nokoff, MD Natalie.Nokoff@childrenscolorado.org or Syd Staggs |
| Natalie, Nokoff, MD | 20-0572 Ongoing Recruiting | The effects of hormone therapy on renal hemodynamic function in transgender youth | To evaluate the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on kidney function | Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04482920 Contact person: Natalie Nokoff, MD Natalie.Nokoff@childrenscolorado.org or Syd Staggs |
| Natalie Nokoff, MD | 17-2328 Complete | Effects of pubertal blockade and hormone therapy on cardiometabolic risk markers in transgender adolescents | Evaluate effects of pubertal blockade and testosterone therapy at baseline and 1 month after starting testosterone | Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03557268 |
| Natalie Nokoff, MD | 15-1215 Complete | Trans Health: evaluation of markers of cardiometabolic health and well-being in transgender youth | Evaluate markers of cardiometabolic health in a cross-sectional study of youth on either a puberty blocker, testosterone or estradiol | Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03557268 |
| Natalie Nokoff, MD | Improving clinical encounters for transgender and gender expansive youth | Identify which departments in Children's Hospital Colorado to target for Gender Inclusivity Training, provide training and evaluate effectiveness |
| UCHealth Integrated Transgender Program |
| Our team of professionals at the UCHealth Integrated Transgender Program helps transgender and gender
diverse adults in their journey to achieve their personal health goals. |