Donor red blood cells and how long they last in people with sickle cell disease
Official title: Donor Red Blood Cell Survival in Recipients with Sickle Cell Disease
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11417949 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how donated red blood cells behave after transfusions in people with sickle cell disease to understand why some lasts longer than others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $641,944 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL179200-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417949 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and children with sickle cell disease who receive or may receive red blood cell transfusions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not influenced by transfusion practices or those not receiving RBC transfusions are less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
If you have sickle cell disease and receive a blood transfusion, the cells you get may not last as long as expected. Researchers will study how factors from both donors and recipients affect how long transfused red blood cells survive in the body, including the potential roles of donor blood with G6PD deficiency or alpha-thalassemia traits. They will also explore whether prior alloimmunization influences how quickly transfused cells are cleared by the spleen and liver. The goal is to identify reasons for reduced RBC survival and point toward ways to improve transfusion effectiveness for SCD patients. This work builds on existing data and focuses on translating findings into better transfusion strategies for people with SCD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of why transfused red cells may fail sooner could lead to more effective transfusion practices and improved outcomes for people with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has suggested donor RBC characteristics can affect survival, supporting further investigation in SCD.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yee, Marianne Elaine Mcpherson — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Yee, Marianne Elaine Mcpherson
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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.