A new iphone app will help the researchers to shed some light on the unique health issues faced by the LGT community.

Based on the iPhoneResearchKit, researchers at University of California, San Francisco, have developed a version that will survey a wide range of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people about health matters such as cancer, obesity, HIV/AIDS smoking, depression and mental issues.

This information collected by the iPhone app from Web users will help the researchers in the creation of largest database yet put together for physical, social and mental issues facing gay, transgender men and women.

This is a part of the PRIDE study. PRIDE stands for Population Research in Identity and Disparities for Equality.

People who want to involve in the study can install the pride app, which is available for free download at the Apple App store or take part by the pride website.

Researchers say that the website and the app are now available for registration.

Dr. Mitchell Lunn, UCSF nephrologists and the co-director of the PRIDE study said,

“Ideally we would like to get tens of thousands of participants and follow people for decades, something like 30 years. The goal is to figure out how being a sexual or gender minority influences physical or mental health.”

The PRIDE research pointed out that health information on the LGBT community is lacking, leaving the community understudies and underserved in health care setting.

Researchers said that the study will be conducted in two parts, beginning with a community listening phase to gather and analyze census and demographic data to comprehend the LGBT community’s health issues and priorities.

Researchers explained that this will be followed by the traditional longitudinal cohort study to frame and answer prioritized questions, a phase that should begin six to nine months from now.

Previous studies at a small scale suggested that the LGBT community is more prone to anxiety and depression than the general population and is greater risk of suicide.

Researchers say that some behaviors like smoking also appear to be more prevalent, but little is known about such issues across the LGBT population.

UCSF research fellow Juno Obedin-Maliver said, “There’s a real lack of evidence-based information on community health. The current landscape for LGBTQ health is less of a map and more of a signpost in the desert. We aim to create that map.”