U.S. Senators, led by Bill Cassidy (R-LA), are questioning the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding an NIH-funded study on puberty blockers and gender transition hormones in transgender youth. The senators, including Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Mike Lee (R-UT), have expressed concerns about the withholding of scientific data that suggests puberty blockers do not improve mental health in children with “gender dysphoria.”
The study, funded by a $5.7 million grant from NIH in 2015, aimed to assess the effects of early medical treatment on transgender youth. Results published last year indicated that two participants died by suicide, while others reported suicidal thoughts or withdrew from the study.
Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, a lead researcher for the study, reportedly withheld data showing no mental health improvement among younger participants using puberty blockers. She stated her reluctance to publish was due to concerns about the data being “weaponized” in legal contexts against using puberty blockers for transgender adolescents.
Senators highlighted findings from the United Kingdom’s Cass Review Final Report, which described weak evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of puberty blockers and opposite-sex hormones for children. This has prompted Cassidy to investigate major medical organizations advocating these treatments despite limited safety information.
“The events in England serve as a warning about the dangers of researchers withholding their findings for political or ideological reasons,” wrote the senators. They emphasized taxpayers’ right to know research outcomes funded by public money.
Cassidy is advocating for reforms at NIH to enhance data sharing among scientists, even when results challenge initial hypotheses. He underscored this need in a white paper released earlier this year.
In response to previous inquiries from Republican senators regarding suicides within the study cohort, NIH acknowledged that this population is “understudied.” Dr. Olson-Kennedy defended her decision not to publish certain data but faced criticism from colleagues like Dr. Amy Tishelman who stressed “it’s really important to get the science out there.”
The British study’s delayed publication and subsequent review led England’s NHS to restrict puberty blocker prescriptions outside clinical trials or exceptional circumstances due to insufficient evidence of their safety or effectiveness.
Cassidy’s ongoing efforts aim at ensuring transparency in federally funded research involving minors and interventions with potential lifelong impacts.
