A strong research program in sickle cell disease and thalassemia complements the clinical care offered by the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program. There are numerous research studies in sickle cell disease and thalassemia open for enrollment, including:
- A multi-center natural history of iron overload study
- A multi-institutional, natural history study examining morbidity and risk factors for subsequent strokes in sickle cell disease
- The Silent Infarct Transfusion Trial (SITT) to determine the benefit of chronic transfusion therapy in sickle cell patients with silent strokes
- A randomized multi-center trial comparing hydroxyurea to chronic transfusions in preventing secondary strokes in sickle cell patients (SWiTCH)
- Industry sponsored, multi-institutional studies examining the safety and efficacy of a new iron chelator on transfusion related iron overload
- Study screening for pulmonary hypertension and its effects in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease, a complication associated with a high risk of mortality in early adulthood. Patients found to have evidence of pulmonary hypertension will be eligible for a pilot trial looking at hydroxyurea for the early treatment of this emerging complication
- Translational research initiative in sickle cell disease to validate a computer-based pain and genetic profiling of markers for opioid responsiveness
- Use of MRI for noninvasive iron assessments in thalassemia and sickle cell disease
- Cardiopulmonary impairment in children with sickle cell disease and evaluation of exercise capacity in sickle cell disease
- Program evaluating the utility of a multi-disciplinary, educational approach to transitioning adolescents to an adult centered sickle cell program
For more information on these research studies and contact information,
visit the the Children's Hospital of Chicago Research Center website.