Current research

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has one of the largest and most active Sickle Cell Disease Programs in the nation. St. Jude treats approximately 800 children per year with sickle cell disease. St. Jude has several labs, which perform various research on sickle cell disease. These labs perform basic science and translational research. Basic science involves theoretical research which is conducted in the lab. Translational research brings the research from the lab to the patient.
In 2008, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute named St. Jude as one of 12 institutions nationwide to participate in the Basic and Translational Research Program on sickle cell disease. The BTRP funded 2 projects at St. Jude under this program.

• One project funded by in the BTRP is led by Dr. Derek Person. It is designed to include a gene therapy solution on sickle cell disease. It has both a basic science and translational research component.
• The second project is led by Dr. Tuomanen, Infectious Disease chair. This project will study pneumococcal infection in patients with sickle cell disease from a lab prospective. This project also has both basic science and translational components.