Improving emergency care for children with sickle cell disease
Official title: Sickle Cell Improvement: ENhancing Care in the Emergency Department (SCIENCE)
Funded at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware · NIH-10896246 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to make sure kids with sickle cell disease get better and faster care in the emergency room when they're in pain, so they can feel better sooner and stay out of the hospital more often.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wilmington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $824,402 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HL159850-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10896246 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have been diagnosed with sickle cell disease and experience acute pain crises.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have sickle cell disease or are outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the emergency department care for children suffering from sickle cell disease, a condition that causes severe pain crises. It aims to implement a care pathway that adheres to established pain management guidelines, which are often not followed due to various barriers, including structural racism. By using multifaceted strategies, the project seeks to improve the timeliness and quality of care these children receive during acute pain episodes. The ultimate goal is to reduce hospitalizations and improve the overall health outcomes for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more effective pain management for children with sickle cell disease, significantly improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that implementing structured pain management protocols can improve outcomes for patients with sickle cell disease, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Wilmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brousseau, David C — Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
- Study coordinator: Brousseau, David C
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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.