According to the CDC, Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) affects 1 in 365 African Americans. Essentially, SCD turns typical round red blood cells into a crescent (or sickle) shape. These misshapen cells turn hard and sticky, blocking oxygen flow and clogging blood vessels. SCD Patients experience everything from severe pain and fatigue to fatal complications like stroke and pneumonia.
A common treatment for SCD is blood transfusion. However, why infusions work remains a mystery. Fortunately, Prithu Sundd, PhD, a Senior Investigator at Versiti Blood Institute (VBRI), is pioneering a Greater Milwaukee Foundation-funded study to understand this biological puzzle.
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