The Trans Healthcare Research Co-Lab

The Trans Healthcare Research Co-Lab is a research program focused on transgender and nonbinary people’s health and healthcare experiences. The aim of this collaborative research endeavor is to conduct community-controlled research that informs practice and supports the health and well-being of trans and nonbinary people in BC and across Canada. The project is led by Leo Rutherford and utilizes connections to the Community-Based Research Centre and Trans Care BC and is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategy for Patient Oriented Research Transition to Leadership Award. While research on the topics is burgeoning, very little research has actively involved community members in designing and carry out projects about health and healthcare. Projects undertaken by the Trans Healthcare Research Co-lab then, will be based on trans community-identified needs and priorities and utilize community-based participatory and patient oriented approaches. The mission of this program is to positively impact the lives of trans and nonbinary people by creating valuable research and knowledge that is given back to the community who needs it most. We will utilize both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect data about community identified research priorities. Through this work we will also create a foundation for future research about gender-affirming healthcare.

Progress Report – May 2025

• Consulted community members on research design, including feedback on data collection tools, methods, recruitment approaches, and knowledge translation strategies.
• Hired a research assistant to support tool development and administrative processes; an REB application has been drafted.
• Established a community engagement committee to support ongoing project activities.
• Formed active collaborations with the Community-Based Research Center (CBRC) and the Center for Research, Education and Advocacy for Transgender Equity (CREATE), which are enhancing reach, recruitment, and knowledge translation.

• Presented a research poster at a conference, outlining the study’s aims and potential impacts on transgender health care.
• Strengthened community-grounded research capacity by embedding patient-oriented practices from the outset.
• Broadened the accessibility and reach of project findings through partnerships that offer mentorship, in-kind support, and strategic guidance in community-based research.