How sex hormones and gender affect inflammation and pain in sickle cell disease
Sex and gender influences on inflammation and pain in sickle cell disease
This project looks at whether natural hormone changes and hormonal contraception change inflammation and vaso-occlusive pain in people with sickle cell disease, especially women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174582 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would give blood samples and report pain across your menstrual cycle so researchers can measure inflammatory markers and timing of pain episodes. The team will compare patterns in people who menstruate to those who do not and may look at how a progestin-only contraceptive (Depo-Provera) changes inflammation and pain. Researchers will link hormone-related changes in inflammation to frequency and timing of vaso-occlusive events. The goal is to understand whether hormone fluctuations drive the higher pain burden seen in females with sickle cell disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people living with sickle cell disease—particularly females of reproductive age who menstruate; males with SCD may be enrolled for comparison.
Not a fit: People without sickle cell disease or those who are postmenopausal, permanently infertile, or not experiencing menstrual hormone fluctuations may not receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to hormone-based strategies or contraceptive choices that reduce painful vaso-occlusive episodes for people with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have performed: Small prior studies found that depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) reduced painful episodes in some people with SCD, but larger, more detailed human studies are still needed.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roe, Andrea — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Roe, Andrea
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 below.