Sickle Cell Anemia Center Actively Participates in Ongoing Research and Clinical Trials

The Sickle Cell Anemia Center at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital’s Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute in Cleveland, Ohio provides preventative measures and the latest medical advances in treatment to diminish both the complication rate and the number of hospital admissions in patients with sickle cell disease. A number of groundbreaking therapies are being developed to reduce the severity and painful manifestations of this disease.

Active Research Studies

Currently, the Sickle Cell Anemia Center has several active research studies, including:

• TCD with Transfusions Changing to Hydroxyurea (TWiTCH): The primary goal of this trial is to compare 24 months of alternative therapy (hydroxyurea) to standard therapy (transfusions) for pediatric subjects with sickle cell anemia and abnormally high (≥200 cm/sec) Transcranial Doppler (TCD) velocities, who currently receive chronic transfusions to reduce the risk of primary stroke. TWiTCH will enroll a total of about 148 children aged 4 to 15 years old with sickle cell anemia and abnormal TCD from about 26 major sickle cell programs in the U.S. and Canada.
• Evaluating Genomic and Phenotypic Variations among Twins and Siblings with Sickle Cell Disease: The goal of this study is to learn about differences in clinical problems among brothers and/or sisters who have sickle cell disease.
• Sickle Cell Renal Disease Cohort Study: The goal of this study is to learn more about kidney problems that can develop in children with sickle cell disease in order to develop monitoring/treatment guidelines to help prevent those problems.