Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 50 Women only

Early-life exposures and breastfeeding in children with sickle cell disease

Official title: Early Life Exposures Among Children With Sickle Cell Disease

Run by University of Alabama at Birmingham · NCT05377372 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project will try a community breastfeeding support group for mothers of infants with sickle cell disease to see if breastfeeding and related supports improve early-life exposures and child health.

More Sickle Cell Disease trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 50 Years
SexWomen only
Enrollment20 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Birmingham, Alabama)
StatusRecruiting
StartedAugust 1, 2026
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2027
Study endsDecember 31, 2027
Registry record updatedJuly 15, 2026
Trial IDNCT05377372 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Mothers of infants diagnosed with sickle cell disease who live in or near Birmingham, Alabama and have reliable internet access are ideal candidates.

Probably not a fit

Families living outside the Birmingham area, those without reliable internet access, or children beyond the infant period are unlikely to benefit from this specific pilot intervention.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a small randomized pilot in which 20 mother–infant pairs will be assigned to a community-based breastfeeding support group or to observation. The team will track acceptability of enrollment, adherence to the intervention for at least six months, and preliminary signals of effectiveness. Researchers will collect data on adverse childhood experiences, social determinants of health, and biomarkers of inflammation, and will compare development of asthma and the frequency of pain episodes and acute chest syndrome between groups. The intervention also includes behavioral components aimed at strengthening maternal psychological resilience and supportive lifestyle practices.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could increase breastfeeding support and reduce inflammation and early respiratory and pain-related complications in infants with sickle cell disease.

How similar studies have gone: Breastfeeding support programs have improved breastfeeding rates in general populations, but using such programs to change inflammatory markers and clinical outcomes in infants with sickle cell disease is largely untested.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* mother of infant with sickle cell disease
* resides within the city of Birmingham, Alabama or in close proximity

Exclusion Criteria:

* prescribed teratogenic medications
* no/limited internet access

Where it's running

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
    Birmingham, Alabama, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Brandi M Pernell, DNP, MSPH — University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Study coordinator: Brandi M Pernell, DNP, MSPH
  • Email: brandimcclain@uabmc.edu
  • Phone: 2058640238

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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  • Cerebrovascular Reactivity Testing with HD-DOT in Sickle Cell Patients

    This study tests whether high-density diffuse optical tomography can measure brain blood flow and oxygen use in people with sickle cell disease, to see how these signals relate to stroke risk.

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.