RESEARCH PROGRAM

Ongoing program development at the Sickle Cell Disease Research Center includes:

• Increasing visibility as a resource and referral center for students, faculty, and staff at UT Dallas and in the local, state, and national community
• Developing a cure for sickle cell disease through the establishment of a translational gene therapy basic research program
• Identifying and securing extramural funding on a local and national level to extend research and training programs

Current research and training initiatives in the Center:

• Sickle Cell Disease Research Center-Summer Institute Program to Increase Diversity (SIPID) in Health Related Research. This program is funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The purpose of the program is to train junior faculty from different academic institutions around the United States. Dr. Pace serves as Director of the program.
  
  Funding Period: August 1, 2006 to May 30, 2011
  
  
• Gamma Globin Induction: Molecular and Cell-Based Strategies. A R01 basic research grant was awarded to Dr. Pace by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The purpose of the project is to discover designer drugs for the treatment of sickle cell disease. This work will be completed in collaboration with Dr. Michael Story at the UT Southwestern Medical Center and Dr. Kenneth Peterson at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
  
  Funding Period: June 1, 2008 to May 30, 2012
  
  
• Genome-Wide Association Study: Fetal Hemoglobin Phenotypes in Sickle Cell Disease. The project is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The purpose of this research is to identify genetic variants in people with sickle cell disease using by performing a genome-wide association study. We will identify markers for fetal hemoglobin production to design new molecular treatments for sickle cell disease
  
  Funding Period: June 1, 2009 to May 30, 2010