The LIGHT Study is based at the Gender Clinic at Austin Health and is a collaboration with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Blood and health information are collected at baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months following GAHT (gender-affirming hormone therapy).

Participants

The LIGHT Study is currently recruiting. The first step is that we need your consent. The Participant Information and Consent Form for trans and gender diverse people, and for people joining the comparator group (cisgender and gender diverse people not using GAHT), is available for download here.

Aims

The purpose of the LIGHT Study is to understand how GAHT influences the immune system.

We know that there are differences in how male and female immune systems work. Male individuals generally show worse outcome to infection, while female individuals have higher rates of autoimmune disease. What does this mean for trans and gender diverse individuals on GAHT? Will susceptibility to certain immune conditions worsen or improve? How about responses to vaccines or infections?

In this study, we will study how immune cell phenotype and function change following GAHT, using state-of-the-art molecular biology, cell biology, and ‘systems immunology’ approaches.

Research Background

This research is supported by the Allen Distinguished Investigator program, a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group advised program of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

We previously discussed the concept of sexual dimorphism in immune function and showed that GAHT can change epigenetic marks in blood and markers in the blood, changing these profile towards the opposite sex.

Materials

A3 poster (designed for print):

A4 poster (designed for print):

A4 poster (designed for digital viewing):

Join

For more information, or to participate, email Kylie King at gender-research@unimelb.edu.au or call 0403 069 897.