Finding a cure for sickle cell disease
Official title: Cure Sickle Cell
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-9787629 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The Cure Sickle Cell Initiative is bringing together patients, families, and caregivers to work together on finding a cure for sickle cell disease using safe genetic therapies, with the goal of improving lives and speeding up the development of new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | September 28, 2018 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2018 |
| Award (this year) | $3,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 1OT3HL147741-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-9787629 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with sickle cell disease, including those with Hb SS disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of anemia or those without a diagnosis of sickle cell disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The Cure Sickle Cell Initiative aims to engage the sickle cell disease community, including patients, families, and caregivers, to collaboratively work towards finding a cure. This initiative focuses on utilizing safe and reliable genetic therapies to improve the lives of individuals affected by sickle cell disease. By fostering partnerships between government agencies, biopharmaceutical companies, and researchers, the project seeks to accelerate the development of innovative treatments and technologies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to groundbreaking genetic therapies that significantly improve or even cure sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: Other research initiatives exploring genetic therapies for sickle cell disease have shown promising results, indicating a potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eapen, Mary — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Eapen, Mary
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
A portable device to measure radiation dose and exposure uniformity after a large radiation event
A field-ready, nail-based device uses advanced spectroscopy and smart software to quickly estimate how much radiation a person has received and how evenly they were exposed, within minutes.
-
Ethics of Engaging Patient Groups in Drug Development for Rare Diseases
This grant asks how patient and family groups can ethically help shape rare-disease drug development from idea to market, with input from patients, families, doctors, and researchers.
-
Renovation of the Biophysics Resources at MCW
This grant funds upgrading a core biophysics facility at the Medical College of Wisconsin to support advanced research in human biology.
-
Cure Sickle Cell: Advancing Gene Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease
A national initiative to move safer genetic therapies for sickle cell disease forward with patient, caregiver, and advocate involvement.
-
Health insurance transitions for older adults with HIV on Medicare
Older adults with HIV face complex Medicare coverage that can affect access to HIV treatment and care.
-
How aging cells affect blood vessel growth and tissue repair
This grant studies how aging cells influence the growth of tiny blood vessels to help healing in tissues, with a focus on improving therapies for age-related diseases.
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.