HHS & NIH Evidence Review on Pediatric Gender Dysphoria — Expert Panel Discussion

In this episode of The Director’s Desk, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya hosts a roundtable with the primary authors of the new HHS peer-reviewed report, “Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices.”

This comprehensive federal review evaluates the scientific evidence behind current pediatric gender dysphoria treatments—including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical interventions—and concludes that these approaches carry significant and long-term risks for children and adolescents.

Featured Authors & Contributors:
• Evgenia Abbruzzese – Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine
• Alex Byre, PhD – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Farr Curlin, MD – Duke University
• Moti Gorin, PhD, MBE – Colorado State University
• Kristopher Kaliebe, MD, DFAACAP – University of South Florida
• Michael K. Laidlaw, MD – Michael K. Laidlaw MD, Inc.
• Kathleen McDeavitt, MD – Baylor College of Medicine
• Leor Sapir, PhD – Manhattan Institute for Policy Research
• Yuan Zhang, PhD – Evidence Bridge
• Additional contributors to the HHS evidence review and peer-review process

Together, they discuss the report’s major findings, the strength and limitations of the existing evidence base, long-term clinical outcomes, and the implications for research, clinical practice, and public health policy.

To learn more or read the full HHS report, visit HHS.gov.