Sickle cell pain: understanding patient-centered outcomes, new biomarkers, and long-term health effects
Official title: Patient-centered endpoints, novel biomarkers, and long-term outcomes of high impact chronic pain in sickle cell disease: Sickle Pain Related Impact (SPiRIt-2) Study
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11277311 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how chronic pain in adults with sickle cell disease affects daily life and what biomarkers might reveal about long-term outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $841,906 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL183140-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11277311 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with sickle cell disease experiencing chronic pain and high-impact pain patterns who are willing to participate in longitudinal assessments and biomarker collection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to long-term follow-up or those not experiencing high-impact chronic pain may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
People with sickle cell disease who are 21 years or older will be followed to understand how chronic pain influences daily activities, work, social life, and self-care over time. The study will identify biomarkers and patient-centered endpoints that reflect the real impact of pain on quality of life. By using three cohorts and prior SPiRit findings, researchers aim to predict who is at risk for high-impact chronic pain and which treatments might help those individuals most. The results could guide personalized care and prioritize resources for patients who suffer the most from chronic pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better ways to measure pain impact and identify targeted treatments to improve daily functioning and quality of life for adults with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous SPiRit work showed that high-impact chronic pain is a distinct, dynamic phenotype with potential to guide treatment prioritization.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bakshi, Nitya — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Bakshi, Nitya
Related research
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-
Using the Mediterranean diet to help reduce chronic pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking at whether eating a Mediterranean diet can help reduce chronic pain for adults with sickle cell disease, and it involves trying out this diet for four weeks to see how it affects their health and pain levels.
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Understanding and treating chronic pain in sickle cell disease
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Exploring how gut bacteria and inflammation affect pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might affect pain levels in people with sickle cell disease, with the hope of finding new ways to help manage pain without relying on opioids.
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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.