Medical students at Chiang Mai University: Award for groundbreaking research!

Medical students at Chiang Mai University: Award for groundbreaking research!

The Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University has reason to be happy. A team of fifth-year medical students were honored to receive the prestigious Travel Award for Young Investigator at the 87th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Hematology. This important conference took place in Kobe, Japan from October 10th to 12th, 2025. Medical student Peeraphol Manopak presented his team's impressive research results in an oral presentation. His topic, “Impact of Feminizing Hormone Therapy on Coagulation Profiles and Global Hemostatic Test in Asian Transgender Women,” focused on hormone therapy and its effects on blood clotting and hemostatic testing in Asian transgender women.

The award they accepted not only reflects the high quality of the work, but also highlights the potential of Chiang Mai University's medical students. To support them were other talents like Chanakrit Boonplod, Pesol Harnkittikarnjana and Sarutya Prasatthum, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nontakorn Hantarakul, an expert in hematology at the Department of Internal Medicine. The research has sparked the interest of professionals around the world and leads us to wonder what conclusions can be drawn for the medical care of transgender people.

The medical importance of hormone therapy

The effects of gender reassignment hormone therapy are an emerging field of research that is becoming increasingly important. While estrogen therapy has been extensively studied in cisgender women, there is a lack of studies addressing hematologic outcomes in transgender individuals. A look at current research shows that the adverse effects of estrogen therapy can depend on the dose and formulation. Management of venous thromboembolism in individuals receiving gender-affirming estrogen involves standardized anticoagulation therapies and requires shared decision-making regarding continuation of hormones. These factors highlight the need for more research to identify potential risks and further refine management.

What's particularly interesting is that some studies suggest that the risk of thrombosis may be low for transgender people receiving gender-affirming testosterone therapy. At the same time, such therapies may also indicate undesirable side effects, such as polycythemia, which require regular monitoring. Iron deficiency is also an important issue that has not yet been sufficiently investigated in this patient group.

The microbiome and health

Another exciting field of research deals with the influence of hormone therapy on the intestinal microbiome of transgender people. An international research team recently examined the effects of twelve weeks of hormone therapy on the microbiome using state-of-the-art sequencing techniques. The results showed profound changes in the microbiome, noting differences between trans men and trans women. Certain types of bacteria have been identified that can, for example, influence the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The need for personalized medical care for trans people, as discussed by Dr. Timur Liwinski from the University of Basel highlighted, is becoming increasingly clear.

These developments not only demonstrate progress in medical research addressing the unique needs of transgender people, but also highlight the need for the medical community to continually educate and adapt to provide optimal health care. In all of these topics, an important focus is on future research and the exchange of knowledge between different institutions and experts worldwide.

For Chiang Mai, this is a significant step forward in both research and support for transgender people, who often face challenges that have not yet been comprehensively addressed in the medical literature. The successes of the medical students show that there is a good knack for research projects that attract not only local but also international attention.