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:

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

Download PDF >

• 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 > 

LGBTQ+ Teen Resiliency

Download PDF >

Study title: LGBTQ+ Teen Resiliency Study

• Study Description: This study offers LGBTQ+ (all identities welcome) teens an 8-session class that teaches practical skills for managing stress and negative emotions. The class is for teens 12-17 years old who have experienced low moods, depression, and/or anxiety. Participants are offered $175 for completing the class and providing feedback about the class. The class takes place on Wednesday evenings at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience in Westwood.
• UCLA Principal investigator: Natalie Ramos, MD, UCLA Psychiatry
• UCLA IRB Approvel: IRB #16-­001493
• Contact Information: Email: [email protected] or Tel: 310-825-0385
• 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

LGBTQ Healthcare Fellowship

LGBTQ Healthcare Fellowship Program 2021 – 2022
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 >