A researcher from Canada has returned to her home country after facing obstacles and losing funding for her study on transgender athletes in the United States. Joanna Harper has dedicated twenty years to investigating the impact of hormone therapy on the athletic performance of transgender individuals.
Her latest project, initiated in early 2024 at a university in Portland, Oregon, focused on analyzing the fitness performance of trans youth before and after undergoing puberty blockers or hormone therapy. Originally planned for a five-year duration, the project was abruptly terminated after only 18 months.
Harper attributed the premature end of her research to the challenging environment for transgender issues in the U.S., particularly after the election of President Donald Trump. His administration implemented policies restricting transgender rights, such as recognizing only two genders on federal documents and prohibiting individuals assigned male at birth from participating in women’s sports.
In addition to governmental actions, budget cuts in scientific research funding in the U.S. impacted Harper’s collaborative project, which was financially supported by Nike. Despite efforts to secure continued funding, the project was discontinued, prompting Harper to relocate back to Canada and resume her research at Western University in London, Ontario.
Acknowledging the setback, Harper expressed determination to pursue further studies on trans athletes. Reflecting on her own experience during a gender transition in 2004, she emphasized the need to understand the evolving athletic capabilities of transgender individuals. Moving forward, Harper plans to collaborate with local trans athletes to gather data for her upcoming research initiatives.
Western University has responded to the funding challenges faced by researchers by launching a program to support post-doctoral students with ties to U.S. institutions. This initiative aims to mitigate the impact of diminishing research funding and reinforce the university’s commitment to fostering international talent.
Despite the setbacks encountered in the U.S., Harper remains steadfast in her dedication to advancing knowledge on transgender athletes and remains hopeful for the future of her research endeavors.