Measuring sickle hemoglobin polymerization in red blood cells to improve treatment assessment
Official title: Development of platform technology to measure kinetics and equilibrium concentration of sickle hemoglobin polymerization in single RBCs for drug potency assessment and patient risk stratification
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11040507 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to see how sickle hemoglobin acts in red blood cells, which can help doctors find the best treatments for people with sickle cell disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 18, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $483,852 |
| NIH project number | 1R33HL173898-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11040507 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with sickle cell disease who are seeking improved treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of sickle cell disease or those who are not actively seeking treatment options may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new technology to measure how sickle hemoglobin behaves in red blood cells, particularly when it polymerizes, which can lead to serious complications in sickle cell disease. By analyzing single red blood cells, the researchers aim to understand the kinetics and concentration of hemoglobin polymerization, which is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of various treatments. This approach could help in identifying which therapies are most beneficial for individual patients, ultimately leading to better management of sickle cell disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective treatment options for patients with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using similar measurement techniques to improve treatment strategies for blood disorders, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Higgins, John Matthew — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Higgins, John Matthew
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.