Single-cell blood tests to predict outcomes in sickle cell disease
Discovery and validation of single cell biomarkers for clinical outcome in sickle cell disease
This project develops single-cell blood tests to help predict how sickle cell disease will affect people and guide treatment choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11241993 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will collect small blood samples from people living with sickle cell disease and run a laboratory test that measures how individual red blood cells change shape and how hemoglobin polymers form as oxygen levels drop. The team uses a new single-cell assay that quantifies polymerization and stiffness of each red blood cell across physiological oxygen ranges. Those measurements will be compared with patients' clinical histories and treatments (for example, hydroxyurea or gene therapy) to see which cell-level patterns match better or worse outcomes. The goal is to validate which single-cell markers reliably track disease severity and treatment response so they can be used in clinical care and trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with sickle cell disease who can provide blood samples and share clinical information would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without sickle cell disease or those unable to give blood samples are unlikely to directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give doctors objective blood-based markers to predict disease severity, personalize treatment, and measure how well new therapies work.
How similar studies have performed: Early work from this team has already shown promise by distinguishing patients who received gene therapy from those on standard hydroxyurea, but larger clinical validation is still needed.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wood, David Kevin — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Wood, David Kevin
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 below.