Our research with transgender youth is focused on optimizing mental health, cognitive maturation, and social development in transgender and non-binary adolescents. We work with youth and families to understand the impact of puberty and the effects hormone administration has on youth during the teenage years. Studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of both gonadal hormone administration and puberty suppression on psychological distress, body image satisfaction, and brain circuits involved in emotion regulation.

We recently began an NIH funded longitudinal study to assess the long term effects of puberty suppression on mental health and brain development in transgender teens. If you are interested in participating or finding out more about this study click here

Representative publications

  • Grannis et al (2023). Expanding upon the relationship between gender affirming hormone therapy, neural connectivity, mental health, and body image dissatisfaction. Psychoneuroendocrinology, in press https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106319
  • Strang et al (2023). The Gender Self Report: A Multidimensional Gender Characterization Tool for Gender Diverse and Cisgender Youth and Adults. American Psychologist, in press https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001117
  • Strang et al (2023). The Autism Spectrum Among Transgender Youth: Default Mode Functional Connectivity. Cerebral Cortex, 33, 6633-6647 https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhac530
  • Grannis et al. (2021). Testosterone Treatment, Internalizing Symptoms, and Body Image Dissatisfaction in Transgender Boys. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 132, 105358. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105358 
  • Strang et al.  (2021). Transgender Youth Executive Function Related to Neurodiversity, Anxiety, and Long-Duration Puberty Suppression.  Child Psychiatry and Human Development. DOI: 10.1007/s10578-21 01195-6 PMID: 34146208
  • Chen et al (2020). Consensus parameter: Research methodologies to evaluate neurodevelopmental effects of pubertal suppression in transgender youth. Transgender Health, 5, 246-257. DOI: 10.1089/tsgh.2020.0006. PMID: 33376803