sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that changes the shape of red blood cells into the shape of a sickle or crescent moon. This can cause the cells to get stuck in small blood vessels, which can lead to pain, infections, and other health problems.

Sickle cell disease is most common in people of African descent, but it can also occur in people of Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean descent. There is no cure for sickle cell disease, but as stories on this page show, there’s considerable research underway on novel approaches to this long-time scourge.