Understanding Immune Reactions to Blood Transfusions in Sickle Cell Disease
Official title: Alloimmunization and Humoral Immune Response to Hemolysis and EPO
Funded at New York Blood Center · NIH-11015291 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand why some people with sickle cell disease develop immune reactions to blood transfusions, which can make future transfusions difficult and risky.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Blood Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $606,340 |
| NIH project number | 2P01HL149626-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11015291 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future related studies might be individuals with sickle cell disease who receive regular blood transfusions or are at risk of developing transfusion reactions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have sickle cell disease or do not require blood transfusions would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
For individuals with sickle cell disease, blood transfusions are a crucial treatment, but a significant number of patients develop antibodies against the transfused blood, known as alloantibodies. These antibodies can lead to serious complications, including difficulty finding compatible blood and life-threatening delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. Our work explores how the balance between certain natural body chemicals, like EPO and asparagine, and the breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) might influence the formation of these antibodies. We are investigating how these factors affect the immune system's response to transfusions, using both laboratory models and studies involving patients with sickle cell disease. The goal is to uncover the underlying mechanisms to ultimately prevent these adverse immune reactions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to prevent serious transfusion reactions, making blood transfusions safer and more effective for people living with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific interplay between EPO, asparagine, hemolysis, and alloimmunization is a novel focus, the challenge of alloimmunization in sickle cell disease is well-recognized, and previous research has explored various aspects of immune responses to transfusions.
Where this research is happening
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New York Blood Center
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yazdanbakhsh, Karina — New York Blood Center
- Study coordinator: Yazdanbakhsh, Karina
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.