Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle-cell disease, or sickle-cell anaemia (or drepanocytosis), is a life-long blood disorder characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various complications.

Understanding Sickle Cell Disease

World Sickle Cell Day is June 19 and was created by the United Nations in 2006 to raise global awareness for sickle cell disease as a public health problem. Sickle cell disease is an extremely debilitating medical condition.

What is Sickle-Cell Disease?

Sickle-Cell Disease Classification

Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis

Sickle-Cell Disease Pathophysiology

Sickle-Cell Disease Genetics

Sickle-Cell Disease Treatment

Sickle-Cell Disease History

Sickle Cell Disease Carriers

Sickle-Cell Disease Symptoms

What is Sickle Cell Trait (SCT)?

Treatment Options for Sickle Cell Disease

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COVID-19 and Sickle Cell Disease

Current Challenges in Sickle Cell Disease

Latest Sickle Cell Disease News and Research

Timepoint at which B cells transform into leukemic cells impacts treatment outcomes

New findings show that the stage of normal cell development at which B cells transform into leukemic cells impacts treatment outcomes for pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

2 Jul 2025

HHS eliminates CDC staff who made sure birth control is safe for women at risk

For Brianna Henderson, birth control isn’t just about preventing pregnancy.

1 Jul 2025

New tool reveals hidden water patterns in protein structures

Every protein in the body is encased in a water shell that directs protein structure, provides vital stability and steers function.

30 Jun 2025

Gene therapy shows promise for reducing stroke risk in patients with sickle cell disease

Gene therapy for sickle cell disease may help improve a major contributing factor to stroke risk in patients, reports a new study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

30 Jun 2025

Scientists identify novel combination therapy approach to treat pediatric acute myeloid leukemia

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute today report the identification of a novel combination therapy approach to treat pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

20 Jun 2025

Researchers find unique genetic profile in childhood cancer survivors with cardiomyopathy

Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital studied how common and rare genetic variants influence late-onset cardiomyopathy risk, highlighting the unique genetic complexity of childhood cancer survivors.

20 Jun 2025

New gene therapy strategy reactivates dormant genes to treat blood disorders

Researchers have found a promising new method for gene therapy. They successfully restarted inactive genes by bringing them closer to genetic switches on the DNA called enhancers.

19 Jun 2025

Global guideline released by WHO on managing sickle cell disease in pregnancy

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its first-ever global guideline on the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) during pregnancy, addressing a critical and growing health challenge that can have life-threatening consequences for both women and babies.

19 Jun 2025

Gene therapy shows long-term success in hemophilia B patients

A gene transfer approach to treating the bleeding disorder hemophilia B remains safe and effective long-term, as scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and University College London today report thirteen years of follow-up data.

12 Jun 2025

MUSC creates protocol to improve emergency care for pediatric sickle cell patients

The Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology divisions at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) joined forces to create and test an algorithm for treating children with sickle cell disease who present to the Emergency Department (ED) with a fever.

28 May 2025

Stress granules play a protective role against neurodegenerative disease

Scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis report mechanistic insights into the role of biomolecular condensation in the development of neurodegenerative disease.

28 May 2025

Study reveals dual role of TEAD proteins in neural development

Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital found that, in neural development, the same set of proteins involved in cellular self-renewal can also facilitate differentiation with the right binding partner.

20 May 2025

Customized CRISPR gene editing therapy successfully treats infant with rare disease

In a historic medical breakthrough, a child diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder has been successfully treated with a customized CRISPR gene editing therapy by a team at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine.

15 May 2025

St. Jude Children's scientists use brain organoids to study rare encephalopathy

While extremely rare, encephalopathy (a condition affecting brain function) triggered by mutations in the UBA5 gene has devastating impacts, with affected individuals reaching few developmental milestones and experiencing frequent and early-onset seizures.

8 May 2025

Scientists unlock secrets of how cells navigate the body

Scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin have created a data science framework to better understand how cells travel through the body.

23 Apr 2025

Hydroxyurea shows long-term benefits for children with sickle cell disease

Hydroxyurea remains effective long-term in reducing emergency department visits and hospital days for children living with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to new research published in Blood Advances.

17 Apr 2025

FOXR2 activation found in multiple pediatric brain tumor types

Physicians classify brain tumors and determine treatment options, in part, by the genes they express. According to World Health Organization standards, the abnormal activation of oncogene FOXR2 only occurs in central nervous system (CNS) neuroblastoma, but that may not be true.

16 Apr 2025

Climate change poses global risk to safe blood supply

A new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health suggests a changing climate threatens the continuous availability of safe blood across the world.

16 Apr 2025

Music therapy intervention improves mental health for heart failure and COPD patients

A new study from University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that it was feasible to conduct a hybrid music therapy intervention for patients with heart failure and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

16 Apr 2025

Menstrual cycle may drive inflammation in women with sickle cell disease

A marker linked to inflammation, C-reactive protein, may increase significantly during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in female patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to emerging research published today in Blood Vessels, Thrombosis & Hemostasis.

9 Apr 2025