A British clinical trial to assess the effects of puberty blockers on gender nonconforming youth faces ongoing controversy.[1] The Pathways study was scheduled to begin in April and include approximately 226 children, some as young as eight years old, who identify as transgender.[1] Professor Jacob George, who started work as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) chief medical officer and scientist in January 2026, raised serious safety and ethical concerns about the study.[1] Based on these concerns, the study was suspended and the Commission for Human Medicines declared that it posed an "unacceptable safety risk" for children.[1] On 27 February, George's participation in the study was suspended after his older social media posts from before his appointment were resurfaced in which he criticized attitudes towards gender identity.[1][3] The MHRA said in a statement that it took this precaution based on the identification of these contributions.[4]