How transfused red blood cells last in people with sickle cell disease

Donor Red Blood Cell Survival in Recipients with Sickle Cell Disease

NIH-funded research Emory University · NIH-11107474

This project looks at which donor blood traits and patient factors make transfused red blood cells last longer in people with sickle cell disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionEmory University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Atlanta, United States)
Project IDNIH-11107474 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be followed after a red blood cell transfusion to see how long the donor cells remain in your bloodstream and why they disappear. Researchers will compare donor blood with common traits such as G6PD deficiency or alpha-thalassemia trait to donor blood without those traits. They will also look at recipient factors like past antibody responses and how the spleen and liver clear transfused cells. Blood samples and clinical follow-up will be used to measure cell survival and study the biological mechanisms behind faster clearance.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with sickle cell disease who are receiving or likely to receive red blood cell transfusions, including children and adults, would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without sickle cell disease or those who do not need red blood cell transfusions are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors pick donor blood and manage transfusions so they last longer and protect people with sickle cell disease better.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies and the investigators' preliminary data suggest donor traits can affect transfused red cell survival, but more work is needed to confirm and apply these findings clinically.

Where this research is happening

Atlanta, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acute Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.