Investigating how blood transfusions affect immune responses in sickle cell disease and thalassemia
Official title: Alloimmunization and Humoral Response to Hemolysis
Funded at New York Blood Center · NIH-10880424 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how blood transfusions affect the immune system of people with sickle cell disease and thalassemia, to understand why some patients have bad reactions while others don’t, with the hope of making transfusions safer and easier for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Blood Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $599,952 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL149626-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10880424 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with sickle cell disease or thalassemia who require blood transfusions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have sickle cell disease or thalassemia are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the immune responses of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia when they receive blood transfusions. It aims to explore how certain components in the blood, particularly free hemoglobin and heme, influence the development of alloantibodies, which can complicate transfusions. By examining the behavior of specific immune cells, the study seeks to identify why some patients develop harmful immune reactions while others do not. The findings could lead to improved transfusion strategies and better management of these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer blood transfusions and reduced complications for patients with sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that understanding immune responses in transfusion settings can lead to significant advancements in patient care, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Blood Center
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yazdanbakhsh, Karina — New York Blood Center
- Study coordinator: Yazdanbakhsh, Karina
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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.