Understanding how the environment affects immune responses in children with sickle cell disease
Official title: SMILE: Sickle Cell Disease Microbiologic and Immunologic Links to Health Equity
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10773157 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how things in the environment, like where kids live and what they breathe, affect the immune system of children with sickle cell disease, to help understand why some kids have more health problems than others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $236,634 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI174000-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10773157 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with sickle cell disease who are outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how environmental factors influence immune responses in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and how these responses contribute to health disparities. By analyzing blood samples and upper airway microbiomes, the study aims to identify unique inflammatory profiles in these children. The research will also link socio-demographic factors and environmental stressors to health outcomes, using advanced profiling techniques and a comprehensive database of real-time environmental data. This approach seeks to uncover the connections between local exposures and the frequency of acute complications in SCD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and management of sickle cell disease, potentially reducing complications and enhancing health equity for affected children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the links between environmental factors and health outcomes in chronic diseases, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kopp, Benjamin T — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Kopp, Benjamin T
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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.