Altered red blood cell membranes in sickle cell disease and infection
Official title: Alterations in RBC Membrane Lipids in SCD/Infection and Impact on Hemolysis
Funded at New York Blood Center · NIH-11365828 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how changes in the red blood cell membrane lipids in people with sickle cell disease and during Babesia infection affect hemolysis, with the aim of finding new ways to reduce anemia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Blood Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rye, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 20, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $490,393 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL149626-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365828 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with sickle cell disease, especially those with hemolytic phenotypes, and individuals with Babesia infection who experience red blood cell turnover.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without sickle cell disease or Babesia infection are less likely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
People with sickle cell disease often have varying severity of anemia, and the research looks at how differences in red blood cell membranes contribute to this. The project examines lipid makeup and mitochondrial processes inside red blood cells to understand why membranes become unstable and hemolyze. It also studies how Babesia infection further strains the membranes and increases red cell destruction. By mapping lipid pathways and their effects on the membrane, the work aims to identify new therapeutic targets to mitigate hemolysis in SCD, especially during infection. The team will use analyses of patient samples and related models to link membrane lipid changes to clinical hemolysis outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new treatments that stabilize red blood cell membranes and reduce anemia in sickle cell patients, including during Babesia infection.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked membrane lipid composition to red cell stability, and this program builds on that foundation with a focus on SCD and infection, showing potential for meaningful advances.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Blood Center
Rye, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lobo, Cheryl Ann — New York Blood Center
- Study coordinator: Lobo, Cheryl Ann
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.