How fetal hemoglobin is distributed in red blood cells in sickle cell disease
Official title: Understanding cellular variation in fetal hemoglobin distribution
Funded at Versiti Blood Health, INC. · NIH-11341383 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand why fetal hemoglobin is unevenly spread among red blood cells in people with sickle cell disease and how this affects illness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Versiti Blood Health, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $704,758 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK147185-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11341383 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with sickle cell disease, or those with related HbF regulatory profiles, whose red blood cells can be studied.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease is not influenced by HbF distribution or whose samples cannot be analyzed may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at sickle cell disease, a condition where blood cells can sickle and cause serious problems. Researchers will study how genetic and epigenetic factors control gamma-globin (HbF) production inside individual red blood cells, using modern sequencing methods. By focusing on the distribution of HbF across cells, they hope to explain why some patients fare worse even with high overall HbF. The study combines lab analyses of patient samples with genetic data to map mechanisms that influence HbF patterns. The goal is to identify targets that could lead to better, more consistent protection against complications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to therapies that produce a more favorable HbF distribution, potentially reducing complications in sickle cell patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows HbF distribution matters for outcomes, but this project seeks to uncover the underlying regulatory mechanisms and translate them into new approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
Versiti Blood Health, INC.
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doerfler, Phillip a — Versiti Blood Health, INC.
- Study coordinator: Doerfler, Phillip a
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.