Defining the Cardiometabolic Profile of Transgender Boys and Men

Studying the cardiometabolic impact of testosterone therapies on transgender boys and men to advance their health and wellbeing

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Full Project Name:Defining the Cardiometabolic Profile of Transgender Boys and Men on Testosterone TherapyPrincipal Investigator:Susanne M. Cabrera, MD, PediatricsCo-Investigator:Michael Widlansky, MD, MPH, Medicine; Andrew Petroll, MD, MS, Medicine; Kristen Klement, MD, Plastic SurgeryAward Amount:$250,000

Award Date

July2021

Project Duration:36 months

Project Description Narrative:

Transgender individuals are those with a gender identity opposite the sex they were assigned at birth. Approximately 1% of the population is transgender, equating to approximately 60,000 Wisconsinites who identify as transgender.

Transgender boys and men may wish to pursue gender-affirming medical and surgical interventions so their body better aligns with their gender identity. Any medical or surgical interventions require that the patient truly understand all the risks and benefits, and shares in the decision-making process. Currently the knowledge of risks and benefits for gender-affirming care of transgender boys and men are based on limited studies, and not much is known about the impact of testosterone therapies on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Through this award, investigators will implement a first-of-its-kind longitudinal study of the cardiometabolic impact of testosterone in transgender boys and trans men in order to offer critical information for care providers and patients to optimize their health and wellbeing.

Project Updates:

Began study recruitment and engaging participants in baseline visits and providing tissue samples
Modifided the parental consent form, in collaboration with CW IRB, MCW IRB, and the aTRU research staff, into Spanish to accomodate a participants' family without causing a clinical delay in the participant starting his gender-affirming hormone therapy