Overview

Our sickle cell disease and hemoglobinopathies program is part of the Manhattan Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. This is an NIH-funded program that brings together in the same institution clinical and basic research projects along with clinical and psychosocial services to serve the patients from our community better. We have a team of dedicated physicians, nurses, and social workers who specialize in sickle cell disease, providing a comprehensive approach to the management of this disease and helping the patients deal with its ravishing effects on their daily lives.

A large number of our patients participate in cutting-edge clinical trials that investigate the use of agents that stimulate fetal hemoglobin (e.g., butyrate and hydroxyurea) in the treatment of sickle cell disease and b-thalassemia. We also have several laboratory-based research projects on sickle cell disease. One of these projects is focused on the investigation of the role of adhesion in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease and the development of therapeutic approaches that target cell adhesion. We are also conducting research to help develop gene therapy as a way of curing the disease in affected individuals.

Our sickle cell program is a dynamic program that brings to the care of our patients all of the exciting advances and breakthroughs that have dramatically improved the outlook for patients with this disease. Our laboratory-based research programs offer the patient the opportunity to participate in translational research activities that harness the power of molecular and cellular biology to help find cures for human disease.