Welcome to the Center for Sickle Cell Disease

The Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease was founded by the late Dr. Roland B. Scott in 1971 to address the needs of patients and families in the Washington Metropolitan area, who are affected by sickle cell disease. The Center is committed to a six-fold goal that includes comprehensive medical care, research, testing, education, counseling and community outreach. Currently, the Center has expanded its clinical research program and developed a collaborative consortium with Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC). Working together, Howard University Hospital, CNMC, NIH and the Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease are the Washington area’s leading provider of patient services for sickle cell disease.

***IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY***

• The Center for Sickle Cell Disease has been chosen as the recipient of a grant to be used to establish the Howard Clinical Scholar Development Program in Sickle Cell Disease a program designed to develop the clinical research skills of a young investigator in an effort to promote the understanding and treatment of sickle cell diseases and related health issues. For information on how to apply to this program please contact Ross Heffer. Applications must be received by Friday, August 29, 2008.

• DC GAPS and the Center for Sickle Cell Disease recently hosted a successful American Red Cross blood drive on July 8, 2008. 12 units of blood were collected and we expect our next blood drive, which will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2008, to be an even bigger success. For more information on registering for our next blood drive, please contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVELIFE to sign up or Angela Mason at (202) 865-4443 for general questions.

• Dr. Sergei Nekhai from the Center for Sickle Cell Disease receives Emerging Scholar Faculty Award from the Howard University Faculty Senate 2008 Faculty Awards Ceremony (Ceremony held April 24, 2008)

• Former Howard University patient receives cutting edge sickle cell treatment (Baltimore Sun artical, March 30, 2008)

• Publication involving the Nigeria Sickle Cell Pulmonary Hypertension study recently accepted in The American Journal of Hematology. We are proud to be part of this important study and the first to report on this complication in this region of the world (Published January 29, 2008)

• ASH News: Live interview with Dr. Zakari Aliyu on hydroxyurea use in Nigeria (Posted December 9, 2007)

• Families Advocating for Children and Adults with Sickle Cell Disease group support meeting to be held at the UCFW 400 - Metro 400 Building, located at 4301 Garden City Drive, Hyattsville, MD 20785. In preparation for the National Stomp Out Sickle Cell Walk, we will be making signs to hold during the walk. We will also be joined by Mrs. Nichole King-Campbell, president of Bequiessence Consulting, who has been working hard to make the SOS walk a success. (10:00AM - 12:00 noon, Saturday, August, 23 2008)

• Workshop on Vasculopathy in Sickle Cell Disease, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD (August 26-27, 2008)

• William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund, Inc. 3rd Annual Fundraiser, keynote speakers: Dr. Randal Pinkett, Winner of NBC's "The Apprentice" and Chairman and CEO of BCT Partners. M&T Bank Pavilion (at the Hippodrome), Baltimore, MD (Thursday, September 18, 2008, 6:00PM)

• Stomp Out Sickle Cell Walk 2008 (Saturday, September 20, 2008), for more information, please contact Barbara Harrison

• Workshop on Iron Overload: Mechanisms, Measurement and Management. The Hematology Program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health announces a 2-day workshop addressing new insights into genetic determinants and molecular mechanisms that promote iron overload. The Historic Inns of Annapolis, Annapolis, MD (October 27-28, 2008)

• American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (December 6-9, 2008)

• 3rd Annual Sickle Cell Disease Research Educational Symposium & Grant Writing Institute. Ft. Lauderdale, FL (February 15-17, 2009)

• Center for Sickle Cell Disease Staff Meeting (Mondays, 10:00AM - 11:00AM, 211/Mudd Building)

• Research Scientists Lab Meeting (Fridays, 10:00AM - 11:00AM, GCRC Conference Room)