Helping youth with sickle cell disease explore STEMM careers
Official title: Elevating Mentoring Possibilities for Overcoming Withstanding Educational Roadblocks in Sickle Cell Disease (EMPOWER SCD): STEMM mentoring for youth with sickle cell disease
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10888830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping kids and teens with sickle cell disease get excited about science and math by connecting them with college students who can mentor them through fun activities and projects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $272,856 |
| NIH project number | 1R25GM154377-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10888830 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents aged 0-18 years who have been diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have sickle cell disease or are outside the age range of 0-18 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on supporting children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) by providing mentoring opportunities in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) fields. Near-peer mentors, who are undergraduate students in engineering and health professions, will engage with middle and high school students through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and presentations. The program aims to foster a STEMM identity and improve academic performance among participants, addressing the educational disadvantages faced by those with SCD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could empower youth with sickle cell disease to pursue careers in STEMM fields and improve their academic outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Similar mentoring programs have shown success in improving educational outcomes for youth with chronic illnesses, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gee, Beatrice E — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Gee, Beatrice E
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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.