Research & Education

The UCLA Gender Health Program supports a number of clinical trials and educational opportunities.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are an important step in discovering new medical treatments. Each study is conducted with actual patients and is designed to answer scientific questions and to find new and better ways to provide care for our transgender and gender diverse patients. The following UCLA clinical trials are currently open for enrollment:

Family Therapy Study

Study title: UCLA Study on Family Therapy for Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth Ages 12-25 and Their Families

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• Study Description: The research team aims to create a new version of family-focused therapy that helps families understand youths’ gender identity, communicate more easily, and reduce stress.
• UCLA Principal investigator: Natalia Ramos, MD and David Miklowitz, PhD, UCLA Department of Psychiatry
• UCLA IRB approval: IRB#21-001033
• Contact information: Call (310) 794-5269 or email [email protected]
• Flyer PDF > 

Anorectal Sexual Function Study 

Study Title: Measuring Anorectal Sexual Function among People with Prostates: A UCLA Research Study

• Are you 18 or older?

• Do you have a prostate (gland between the bladder and the anus that produces semen)? 

• Have you had receptive anal sex (bottoming) in the last year? 

  The UCLA Department of Urology are seeking volunteers of any gender or sexuality to participate in a research study about anal sex:

• One 60-90 minute focus group via Zoom

• No physical exams or tests

• Help create a questionnaire to help doctors and researchers understand sexual function and satisfaction

• $25 Amazon gift card for your time 

• Contact Informatoion: Dr. Thomas Gaither - call 424-325-8651 or email [email protected]  
• Flyer PDF > 

My Microbes & Me

Study title: My Microbes & Me

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• Study Description: We’re conducting a voluntary research study with healthy young people, where we’re looking at how the good microbes in the gut and other parts of the body change as you grow and develop, and how hormones may change these microbes. The study lasts 2 ½ years, and includes providing samples, answering questions about what you eat and things you do, measuring height, weight, blood pressure, and body changes, and getting information from your medical record.
• UCLA Principal investigator: Grace Aldrovandi, M.D., UCLA Department of Pediatrics
• UCLA IRB approval: IRB#17-000136
• Contact information: [email protected]
• Flyer PDF > 

Study for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in HIV-Uninfected Cisgender Men and Transgender Women

Study title: Phase 2b/3 Double Blind Safety and Efficacy Study of Injectable Cabotegravir Compared to Daily Oral Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine (TDF/FTC), For Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in HIV-Uninfected Cisgender Men and Transgender Women who have Sex with Men (HPTN 083)

• Study Description: This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the injectable drug cabotegravir (CAB LA), for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV-uninfected cisgender men and transgender women who have sex with men (MSM and TGW).
• UCLA Principal investigator: Jesse Clark, MD, UCLA Medicine, Infectious Disease
• UCLA IRB Approvel: IRB #17-000051
• Contact Information: Michele Vertucci, Infectious Disease
• For more information and to submit a form of interest > 

• For detailed technical eligibility, visit ClinicalTrials.gov

For more information about clinical trials at UCLA:
UCLA Office of Clinical Trials

Educational Opportunities

UCLA Fellowship in Genital Gender-Affirming Surgery 

This one-year fellowship focuses on all aspects of the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with gender dysphoria seeking gender-affirming genital surgery.  This is a clinical fellowship with opportunity for research in clinical or population studies. The fellow will practice with faculty primarily at UCLA Urology’s Burbank and Westwood clinics and operate in UCLA’s main Westwood medical center. In addition to clinical responsibilities, the fellow will participate in the multi-disciplinary team of specialists that comprises the UCLA Gender Health Program.  Upon completion of the fellowship, the fellow will be suited to pursue a career in either academic urology or the private sector with a focus on gender-affirming genital surgery.  The fellow will graduate with advanced skills in genitourinary reconstruction for transfeminine and transmasculine surgery and will be fully able to manage medical and surgical issues in patients undergoing primary and revision gender-affirming genital surgery.  For more detailed information and to apply >

LGBTQ Healthcare Fellowship

LGBTQ Healthcare Fellowship Program 2022 – 2023
The objective of the UCLA LGBTQ Healthcare Fellowship is to train future primary care physicians to be sensitive, comfortable, clinically knowledgeable and culturally competent in delivering healthcare to sexual and gender minority patient populations.

For more detailed information >
To apply >

Related UCLA Newsroom story >