Research

 In 2024, the NIH Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) selected Jessica Perkins, PhD, MS at Vanderbilt as one of only three recipients of the ODP Early Stage Investigator Award. This award goes to researchers who “are poised to become… Read More

Research Objective The research highlighted the transformative effects legal access to same-sex marriage has had on LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, and the lack of adverse societal impacts. The literature review brought forward the increased marriage take-up by same-sex couples, a decrease in homophobic attitudes, and improved access to health insurance… Read More

Research Objective Even with legal protections, transgender individuals still face economic disadvantages compared to cisgender individuals. The study aimed to collect data on how employers, co-workers, and the general public view transgender people in terms of job opportunities. Specifically, the study wanted to understand attitudes towards transgender managers in the… Read More

What did we do? This study analyzed data from the Vanderbilt University Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study (VUSNAPS), a large survey of LGBTQ+ adults aged 50-76 living in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.We first asked respondents if they had a usual health care provider that they go to… Read More

What did we do? This study analyzed data from the Vanderbilt University Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study (VUSNAPS), a large survey of LGBTQ+ adults aged 50-76 living in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. We assessed “Undetectable equals Untransmittable” (U=U) awareness, belief, understanding, and impact on risk perception among middle-aged… Read More

What did we do? The goal of this study was to understand parents’ experiences with navigating systems of care and inform the development of culturally responsive resources for LGBTQ+ youth and families in Middle Tennessee. We conducted focus groups with parents to learn about their experiences. All parents had children and… Read More

What is suicide loss? Suicide loss is the loss of a family member, friend, or loved one to suicide. On average, each death by suicide is estimated to expose 135 people to that loss [1]. More than 1-in-5 people will experience suicide loss over their lifetime [2]. The impact of… Read More

The Problem: Approximately 33% of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years who identify as transgender now live in states that have enacted bans on gender-affirming care (GAC)-a form of care comprising medical and nonmedical services based on extensive multidisciplinary evidence-based guidelines that support transgender people’s gender identity and expression. In… Read More

The Problem: Racial disparities in student test scores have narrowed since the 1970s, but the average Black American still scores below 75 percent of the average white American on almost every standardized test, according to the Brookings Institution. As education has been shown to increase an individual’s income, job stability,… Read More

The Problem: In the United States and globally, income is inversely correlated with carbon footprint, yet low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately burdened by the health and economic impacts of those carbon emissions, including impacts of climate change. In Nashville, low-income families are disproportionately burdened by poor access… Read More