Understanding how certain proteins affect blood vessel blockages in sickle cell disease
Official title: Oxidative Cysteine Modification by Thiol Isomerases in Sickle Cell Disease
Funded at Bloodworks · NIH-11159840 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how specific proteins called thiol isomerases contribute to painful blood vessel blockages in people with sickle cell disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Bloodworks NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL164888-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159840 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients with sickle cell disease who experience vaso-occlusive events and are seeking improved treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without sickle cell disease or those not experiencing vaso-occlusive events would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
People with sickle cell disease often experience painful blockages in their blood vessels, and current treatments don't always prevent them. This project looks into how a process called oxidative stress, which is common in sickle cell disease, makes these blockages worse. Researchers are focusing on a group of proteins called thiol isomerases, which are involved in blood clot formation and are affected by oxidative stress. The goal is to understand how these proteins cause blockages, with the hope of finding new ways to stop them.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatment strategies that specifically target the mechanisms causing painful blood vessel blockages in sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggests that targeting a specific thiol isomerase with a flavonoid can decrease cell-cell adhesion in mouse models of sickle cell disease, indicating a promising, though still early, approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Bloodworks
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Moua — Bloodworks
- Study coordinator: Yang, Moua
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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.