Research

Learn about research projects, publications and opportunities at the Gender Clinic.

Research into health care for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people has many gaps and until recently had not received the necessary funding in Australia for many years. At Monash Health Gender Clinic, we aim to make a significant contribution to research that can improve health outcomes for our clients, and for TGDNB people more generally. We look for collaboration with research academics, students and the TGDNB community. To help support this, we employ a Project/Research Worker and a Research Officer to: maintain links with the TGDNB community and with researchers in the field; support research students; and undertake research and quality improvement projects.

Research underway

In November 2025, there were a number of projects underway:

• Participation in two Medical Research Future Fund Models of Care for Sexuality & Gender Diverse People grants;
  • Comparing different models of gender-affirming medical service provision: a range of projects underway and recruiting participants;
  • A ‘whole-of-setting’ model of care for trans and gender diverse people in prison: a literature review near publication, and preparing to begin recruiting participants. 
• Compare models: MHP and GP gender incongruence assessment and hormone prescription: ongoing PhD student study recruiting participants and analysing data.
• Neurodivergnce among Gender Clinic clients: This project aims to improve the clinical journey for neurodivergent trans, and gender diverse clients. The clinic strives to reduce barriers to trans-affirmative care and ensure consumers lead key decisions. Research is currently examining Healthcare Provider Capabilities, to build inclusive, responsive care models. A Monash Health Jump Start Grant was awarded in 2025.
• Gender Clinic Client Satisfaction Survey: A Medicine Honours student undertook research into client satisfaction at the Gender Clinic in 2003. Data collection continues to be updated and an academic paper is in preparation.
• Eating disorders among Gender Clinic clients: Gender Clinic researchers in collaboration with medical students have undertaken literature reviews around clinician confidence and competence. A draft set of clinical guidelines is being reviewed by clinicians.
• The clinic collect samples for genetic research conducted by Prof Vincent Harley at the Hudson Institute for Medical Research.
  

Research completed

There are several recently completed projects:

• Exploring the meanings and experiences of menopause for TGD people: publication 2025
• Dissociative Identity Disorder and dissociative symptoms among TGD clients: publication 2025
  

Recent relevant publications by clinic staff and students

• Lane, R., Kaufman, M., Colón Cabrera, D., & Kalra, G. (2025) Dissociative identity disorder and dissociative symptoms in people with gender incongruence: a critical review of literature and a case series. International Journal of Transgender Health, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2025.2573832
• Freya K. Kahn, Chantal M. Wiepjes, David Colon-Cabrera, Michelle A. Tollit, Monsurul Hoq, Debi Feldman, Anja Ravine, Riki Lane, Thomas D. Steensma & Kenneth C. Pang. (2025) Effect of assigned sex on the age at which individuals seek specialist gender affirming care, International Journal of Transgender Health, DOI: 10.1080/26895269.2025.2503221
• Xin, M., Lane, R. (2025) Exploring the clinical, psychological, and social relevance of menopause for trans and gender diverse people: a qualitative study. Menopause DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002498
• Coventry J, Lane R, & Osadnik C (2025) Exploring interactions between transgender, gender-diverse, and nonbinary individuals and allied health professionals in clinical practice: a scoping review, Transgender Health, DOI: 10.1089/trgh.2022.0222. 
• Webb, G., Barton, C., Madawala, S., & Lane, R. (2024). Primary care feels more comfortable: A meta-ethnography of transgender people accessing hormone therapy in primary care. International Journal of Transgender Health,. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2024.2441975
• Badawy, M.K., Dadoo, P., Grossmann, K., Lane, R. & Colon-Cabrera, D. (2023), Gender-inclusive practice in pregnancy determination for transgender, gender diverse and non-binary patients in medical imaging. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. https://doi.org/10.1111/1754-9485.13551
• Solanki, P., Colon Cabrera, D., Barton, C. A., Locke, P., Cheung, A., Spanos, C., Grace, J., Erasmus, J., & Lane, R. (2023). Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy for the Trans, Gender Diverse, and Nonbinary Community: Coordinating World Professional Association for Transgender Health and Informed Consent Models of Care. Transgender Health, 8(2), 137-148. https://doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2021.0069
• Erasmus, J. (2020). “Monash Gender Clinic: an overview of the current model of care.” Australasian Psychiatry: 28(5), 533-535.
• Cheung, A. S., K. Wynne, J. Erasmus, S. Murray & J. D. Zajac (2019). “Position statement on the hormonal management of adult transgender and gender diverse individuals.” The Medical journal of Australia: 211, 127-133.
• Lane R. (2019) ‘Developing inclusive primary care for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people’ Canadian Medical Association Journal: 191(3), E61-E62.
• Foreman, M., L. Hare, K. York, K. Balakrishnan, F. J. Sánchez, F. Harte, J. Erasmus, E. Vilain and V. R. Harley. (2018). “A genetic link between gender dysphoria and sex hormone signalling.” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism: 104(2), 390-396.
• Lane, R. (2018) ‘”We are here to help”: Who opens the gate for surgeries?’ TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly: 5(2), 207-227.
• Pang, K., Lane, R., Bagga, H. (2017) ‘Gender Dysphoria’ In Abnormal Psychology: Leading Researcher Perspectives 4th Edition (Ed. Rieger, E). McGraw-Hill Education: Sydney.
• Hakeem, A., Črnčec, R., Asghari-Fard, M., Harte, F., Eapen, V. (2016). “Development and validation of a measure for assessing gender dysphoria in adults: The Gender Preoccupation and Stability Questionnaire.” International Journal of Transgenderism: 17(3-4), 131–140.
• Lane, R. (2016) ‘Reading trans biology as a feminist sociologist’ TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly: 3(1-2), 185-191.
• Erasmus, J, Bagga, H, Harte, F (2015) Assessing patient satisfaction with a multidisciplinary gender dysphoria clinic in Melbourne. Australasian Psychiatry 23, 158-162.

Research opportunities

Would you like to be involved in research that helps to understand trans and gender diverse identifying individuals and improve service delivery for people exploring gender affirmation?

Monash Health Gender Clinic participates in research on a variety of topics. Some are in-house projects led by Gender Clinic staff members, which may include students and doctors/psychiatrists/psychologists in training; others are partnerships with other organisations funded by research institutes.

In 2025, we established a research contact list to facilitate participation by Gender Clinic clients in research. This secure research participation database allows current clients and those on our waitlist to indicate their interest in receiving invitations to participate in current and future research projects. Participants can update their preferences at any time.

Joining or not joining the research participant database does not affect client engagement, assessment, or services provided by the Gender Clinic. Only Gender Clinic Research Officers (non-clinicians) have access to the database.

What is involved?

By joining the research participant database, you will receive invitations to participate in specific research projects.

You will be under no obligation to participate.

Projects may include completing a survey or series of surveys, being part of an interview or focus group etc. Some projects offer recognition of your efforts (e.g. gift card, voucher, or entry into a participant prize draw). Individual research project details will be in each project’s invitation.

What do you need to do now?

If you are interested in receiving invitations to participate in research projects, please click the link below and fill in your contact details. You will be able to remove or alter your details from the research participant database at any time using the same link or by emailing the genderclinicresearch@monashhealth.org.