Why sickle cell trait can cause blood clots and kidney damage
Mechanisms of venous thrombosis and renal dysfunction in sickle trait
This project looks at whether red blood cells in people with sickle cell trait become rigid and sticky under harsh conditions, causing blood clots and kidney damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11293423 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect blood from people with sickle cell trait at UNC Chapel Hill and partner sites to study how their red blood cells behave. Lab tests will recreate the extreme physical conditions inside blood clots and deep in the kidney to see if trait cells sickle, lose flexibility, and become more adhesive. A mouse model that carries sickle trait will be used to reproduce clot formation and kidney changes and to test treatments that reduce sickling or clotting. Together the human-sample and animal experiments aim to link cell changes to clot and kidney problems and identify possible treatment approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who carry sickle cell trait (heterozygous for the β-globin mutation), with or without prior blood clots or kidney symptoms.
Not a fit: People who do not carry sickle cell trait, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment rather than research participation, are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent blood clots and protect kidney function in people with sickle cell trait.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked sickle cell trait to higher risks of venous thrombosis and kidney disease, and anti-sickling treatments help in sickle cell disease, but applying these approaches specifically to sickle trait and clot prevention is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Key, Nigel S. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Key, Nigel S.
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.