Welcome to the Center for Sickle Cell Disease

The Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease was founded by the late Dr. Roland B. Scott in 1971 to address the needs of patients and families in the Washington Metropolitan area, who are affected by sickle cell disease. The Center is committed to a six-fold goal that includes comprehensive medical care, research, testing, education, counseling and community outreach. Currently, the Center has expanded its clinical research program and developed a collaborative consortium with Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC). Working together, Howard University Hospital, CNMC, NIH and the Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease are the Washington area’s leading provider of patient services for sickle cell disease.

Center-Affiliated Events (Archive)

Gladys Onojobi, MD featured in the Natural Health section of The Nation on Thursday, December 24, 2009 discusses why herbal medicine should be incorporated into orthodox treatment for cancer.

4th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Research and Educational Symposium & Grant Writing Institute and Annual National Sickle Cell Disease Scientific Meeting. The Grant Writing Institute is a highly interactive, intense program not necessarily specific to Sickle Cell Disease research. Participants will learn how to develop winning proposals, get a real look at how NIH grant applications are reviewed, and be mentored by faculty who can provide guidance on how to improve the chances of receiving a positive review. Sunday, February 14, 2010 - Friday, February 19, 2010.

National Conference on Blood Disorders in Public Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Blood Disorders, in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the American Society of Hematology is hosting a conference that hopes to serve as the catalyst for developing a nationally recognized public health framework for promoting the health of and improving outcomes among people at risk for or affected by a non-malignant blood disorder. Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 8:00AM - Thursday, March 11, 2010, 12:30PM.

Upcoming Local Events (Archive)

Health fairs:
- DCGAPS, The Center for Sickle Cell Disease, The National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), Be The Match Registry, The American Red Cross (ARC), and the Student Society of the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacy from the Howard University School of Pharmary are sponsoring the first Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ Tissue Donor Registration Drive on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on the front plaza of the Howard University Hospital.

Ongoing Open Events

Sickle Cell Screening, Wednesdays, 9:00AM - 12:00PM, HU Hospital Main Lobby. No appointment necessary, call (202) 865-4443 for more information.

Center for Sickle Cell Disease Staff Meeting, Mondays, 10:00AM - 11:00AM, 211/Mudd Building.

Research Scientists Lab Meeting, Fridays, 10:00AM - 11:00AM, GCRC Conference Room.

Sickle Cell and Anemia News (Archive)

NIH discovers key to sickle cell cure. A breakthrough stem cell procedure could soon help cure thousands of adults with sickle cell and other inherited blood disorders. NBC's Robert Bazell reports. (NBC Nightly News December 9, 2009)

Sickle Cell Disease In Adults Reversed By Blood Stem-Cell Transplant Regimen. A modified blood adult stem-cell transplant regimen has effectively reversed sickle cell disease in 9 of 10 adults who had been severely affected by the disease, according to results of a National Institutes of Health study in the Dec. 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial was conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., by NIH researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. News from NIH News (posted December 9, 2009)

Studies Investigate New Trends And Treatment Options For Sickle Cell Disease Patients. Research presented today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology highlights intriguing studies on the acute danger that the H1N1 pandemic presents for children with this blood disorder, evaluations of both new and standard treatments for common complications of sickle cell disease, and an expansion of the current understanding of hemoglobin expression in red blood cells that may lead to new treatments. Press Release from the American Society of Hematology (posted December 6, 2009)

H1N1 More Risky Than Seasonal Flu In Children With Sickle Cell Disease. Infection with the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, causes more life-threatening complications than seasonal flu in children with sickle cell disease, according to research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Health news from Johns Hopkins Medicine (article posted November 26, 2009)

Barriers To Pain Treatment In Children With Sickle Cell Disease Revealed By New Study. A new study by researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, found a substantial variation in hydroxyurea utilization for pain and other sickle cell disease complications in children. Barriers to its use on the part of both providers and patients were also identified. Health news from Medical News Today (article posted 12/7/09)

Initiative Could Result In Paradigm Shift In The Care Of Sickle Cell Patients. The Medical College of Georgia is leading an initiative that could result in a paradigm shift in the care of patients with sickle cell disease. Health news from Medical College of Georgia (article posted November 26, 2009)

Study Targets Stroke Prevention In Children With Sickle Cell Anemia. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators were recently awarded a $23 million federal grant to launch a national study of the drug hydroxyurea to prevent first strokes in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia (SCA). The effort will be the fifth at St. Jude involving hydroxyurea to treat children with SCA. Health news from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (article posted October 29, 2009)

Sickle Cell Anemia Complications Can Be Reduced With Targeted Treatments. Sickle cell anemia is a potentially debilitating disease, but according to a Geisinger physician targeted treatments and coping methods are available to ease the pain and reduce the chance for complications. Health news from Geisinger Health System (article posted October 13, 2009)

Last updated: February 1, 2010

For questions, comments or concerns regarding this web site please contact Randa K. Aladdin.