How estrogen hormone therapy may change vaccine responses in adult transgender women
Official title: Effects of Exogenous Hormone Treatment on Vaccine Responses
Funded at New York Blood Center · NIH-11402531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will look at how estrogen hormone therapy in adult transgender women affects their immune response to the seasonal COVID-19 vaccine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Blood Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rye, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | December 16, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $197,689 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI183544-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult transgender women using estrogen-replacement therapy and adults not on hormone therapy, all 21+ years old.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without exposure to estrogen or those not receiving the updated vaccine may not experience a different immune response
What this research studies
Researchers will compare immune responses to the updated COVID-19 vaccine in adult transgender women on estrogen therapy with those in people not on such therapy. The study focuses on how female sex hormones influence immune cells and antibody production after vaccination. It uses blood tests to measure B cell activity and antibody levels to understand differences in vaccine responses. The goal is to determine whether estrogen exposure alters vaccine effectiveness and immune protection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If estrogen therapy influences vaccine responses, clinicians may tailor vaccination strategies for transgender women and others on hormone treatment to maximize protection.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work indicates hormones can modulate immune responses, but this specific interaction with COVID vaccines in transgender women is not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Blood Center
Rye, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lustigman, Sara — New York Blood Center
- Study coordinator: Lustigman, Sara
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.