Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia is a serious disease in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells. “Sickle-shaped” means that the red blood cells are shaped like a "C." Normal red blood cells are disc-shaped and look like doughnuts without holes in the center. They move easily through your blood vessels. Red blood cells contain the protein hemoglobin. This iron-rich protein gives blood its red color and carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Sickle cells contain abnormal hemoglobin that causes the cells to have a sickle shape. Sickle-shaped cells don’t move easily through your blood vessels. They’re stiff and sticky and tend to form clumps and get stuck in the blood vessels. (Other cells also may play a role in this clumping process.) The clumps of sickle cells block blood flow in the blood vessels that lead to the limbs and organs. Blocked blood vessels can cause pain, serious infections, and organ damage.
What is Sickle-Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease (SCD), also known as sick cell anaemia, encompasses a group of genetic disorders characterized by abnormal haemoglobin in red blood cells.

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Latest Sickle Cell Anemia News and Research

Research breaks ground on new ways of treating blood disorders with gene therapy

Research breaks ground on new ways of treating blood disorders with gene therapy

New gene editing approach could revolutionize the treatment of blood disorders

New gene editing approach could revolutionize the treatment of blood disorders

MIT expert calls for a total overhaul of the U.S. health insurance system

MIT expert calls for a total overhaul of the U.S. health insurance system

UCSF's new pain clinic in Walnut Creek offers hope for children with chronic pain

UCSF's new pain clinic in Walnut Creek offers hope for children with chronic pain

AI predicts on- and off-target activity of RNA-targeting CRISPRs

AI predicts on- and off-target activity of RNA-targeting CRISPRs

Duke researchers expand functionality of CRISPR gene editing

Duke researchers expand functionality of CRISPR gene editing

Targeting the hemoglobin problem in sickle cell disease using a new drug

Targeting the hemoglobin problem in sickle cell disease using a new drug

New approach addresses the challenge of directly connecting genetic variants to human traits, health

New approach addresses the challenge of directly connecting genetic variants to human traits, health

Combination treatment could improve stem cell transplantation process for multiple myeloma patients

Combination treatment could improve stem cell transplantation process for multiple myeloma patients

Novel tool uses AI to predict the efficacy of genome-editing repair options

Novel tool uses AI to predict the efficacy of genome-editing repair options

New research changes the paradigm of how people think about graft-versus-host disease

New research changes the paradigm of how people think about graft-versus-host disease

AI tool promises to accelerate the development of gene therapies on a large scale

AI tool promises to accelerate the development of gene therapies on a large scale

Newly discovered CRISPR immune system shuts down infected cells to thwart infection

Newly discovered CRISPR immune system shuts down infected cells to thwart infection

Protection afforded by SARS-CoV-2 infection against reinfection when Omicron BA.5 was the dominating subvariant in Scania county, Sweden

Protection afforded by SARS-CoV-2 infection against reinfection when Omicron BA.5 was the dominating subvariant in Scania county, Sweden

First transfusions of lab-grown blood

First transfusions of lab-grown blood

Report: Less than half of children with sickle cell anemia received recommended screening and treatment

Report: Less than half of children with sickle cell anemia received recommended screening and treatment

Supplementary folic acid associated with higher risk of COVID-19 diagnosis and mortality

Supplementary folic acid associated with higher risk of COVID-19 diagnosis and mortality

Carbon monoxide foam in the fight against inflammation

Carbon monoxide foam in the fight against inflammation

Efficacy of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 sublineages in Sweden

Efficacy of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 sublineages in Sweden

Researchers develop universal AI algorithm to "clean" noisy single-cell RNA sequencing data

Researchers develop universal AI algorithm to "clean" noisy single-cell RNA sequencing data