The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has awarded$ 2.3 million to a research project to investigate the effects of gender affirming hormone therapy on immune function. The project is being led by Associate Professors Ada Cheung and Rachel Davey from the Department of Medicine ( Austin Health ) at the University of Melbourne.
The effect of gender affirming estrogen therapy on defense performance in transgender people may be studied by Associate Professors Cheung, Rachel Davey, Boris Novakovic, and Musa Mhlanga from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Radbount Institute for Molecular Life Sciences.
All of the analysts have received the designation of Allen Distinguished Investigators, out of 18 worldwide.
According to The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group’s recommendation, the honours represent a full of about US$ 10.5 million in revenue from the foundation to help cutting-edge, early-stage research projects that seek to advance the fields of biology and medicine.
According to Associate Professor Cheung, leader of the Trans Health Reseach party, “in this project, we will evaluate how sex hormone alter the immune function and risk of infection of transgender people undergoing female affirming hormone therapy.”
” This vertical method will enable researchers to examine the impact of sexual hormones beyond the populace level and to delve deeper into how inhaled hormone circulating impact specific immune responses.”
Interestingly, the findings of this study could be applied to enhance health outcomes for transgender people and broaden our understanding of how sex hormones affect resistance.
The party received recognition for their accomplishments in this field from Professor Jane Gunn AO, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences.
Associate Professor Cheung and her crew are in charge of this crucial, expanding field of study, according to Professor Gunn.
This study is world-class, and the fact that it has received international funding is a direct representation of Associate Professor Cheung and her colleagues and how well-liked they are by their peers.
A highly competitive National Institutes of Health ( NIH) grant for$ 436, 000 has also been given to Associate Professors Novakovic and Cheung to research the immune effects of gender affirming hormone therapy.
With a Heart Foundation 2024 Vanguard Grant, Associate Professor Cheung’s ground-breaking work is also growing to better understand the effects of testosterone therapy on brain size and function.
These accomplishments are yet another significant testament to the internationally renowned research being conducted by Associate Professor Cheung and the Trans Health Research team team.
