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 has 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 Officerto: 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 February 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 has inter-organisational arrangements commencing;
  • A ‘whole-of-setting’ model of care for trans and gender diverse people in prison has a literature review underway. 
• Compare models: MHP and GP gender incongruence assessment and hormone prescription: PhD student study.
• Dissociative Identity Disorder and dissociative symptoms among TGD clients: Gender Clinic clinicians and researchers in collaboration with medical students have undertaken a literature review and case series, and academic publications are in preparation.
• Neurodivergnce among Gender Clinic clients: Gender Clinic clinicians and researchers in collaboration with medical students are undertaking a review of client files case series, with a view to prepare academic publications.
• Gender Clinic Client Satisfaction Survey: A Medicine Honours student undertook research into client satisfaction at the Gender Clinic in 2003. An academic paper is in preparation.
• Sex and gender markers in electronic medical records: paper under development in collaboration with a medical student
• 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)
• Inclusive practice in pregnancy determination for radiological examinations. Journal article published 2023: “Gender-inclusive practice in pregnancy determination for transgender, gender diverse and non-binary patients in medical imaging” 
• Bachelor Medical Science (Honours): Models of care for the trans, gender diverse and non-binary community in Victoria: a quantitative comparison. Journal article published 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”

Other recent research contributions

H Bagga participated in the World Professional Association for Transgender Health sub-committee developing the Mental Heath chapter for the Standards of Care Version 8.

Staff members and students presented at the 2023 Australian Professional Association for Trans Health conference: 

• Theresa Dominguez – Sharing Experiences and Improving Practice: Autistic TGDNB people and mental health care providers. 
• Theresa Dominguez – When Spectrums Intersect: enhancing gender-affirming care through integrated Neurodivergence assessment.  
• Emmett Radovich – Improving fertility-related care for Transgender, Gender-Diverse and Non-Binary People in Australia.  
• Jordan Bellamy – Sex and Intimacy: assisting clients to navigate sex and intimacy while affirming their gender.  
• Isaac Marks – Beyond the Clinical: Advocacy and peer navigation.  
• David Colón Cabrera – Advancing Inclusive Healthcare: Documenting the integration of a separate gender field in electronic medical systems.  
• Isabel Lee – Client Satisfaction and Barriers to Care at Gender Clinics –a scoping review.  

Recent relevant publications by clinic staff and students

• 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
• 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
• Coventry J, Lane R, & Osadnik C (2023) 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. 
• 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.
• Bouman, W. P., Harte, F., et al. (2014). “Yes and yes again: are standards of care which require two referrals for genital reconstructive surgery ethical?” Sexual and Relationship Therapy 29(4): 377-389.

Research opportunities