A NOVEL CENTER FOR SICKLE CELL CARE
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, affecting an estimated 2,000 children per year. Along with chronic pain and life-threatening health problems, children battling this disease are at an increased risk for developmental delays and psychological and emotional distress.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital seeks your partnership in creating a new Center for Sickle Cell Disease within the Children’s Discovery Institute (CDI). This groundbreaking initiative will be one of only a handful of institutions worldwide to serve as both a research center focused on sickle cell treatment and an innovation hub working to address gaps in patient care.
Together with our WashU Medicine partners, we will transform the approach to treatment and management of pediatric SCD, advancing the care and quality of life for all patients from birth to adulthood.
Current State
The population of sickle cell patients is marginalized: 90% of patients in the U.S. are Black and 80% are insured by Medicaid. Many face challenges to treating the disease beyond the obvious physical concerns. A lack of early intervention, along with barriers to care and a lack of access to resources, can exacerbate existing issues and lead to poor health outcomes for both children and their families.
The transition from pediatric to adult-based care is particularly high-risk, as adolescents combat greater complications than younger children with SCD. Our partnership with BJC HealthCare allows St. Louis Children’s Hospital to provide a fully integrated continuum of care for these patients — easily facilitating the move to in-network adult hospitals when the time is right.
The path forward
A dedicated Center for Sickle Cell Disease within the CDI will establish a platform that translates the most cutting-edge research into immediate, active care for children. But our success depends on the generosity of donors like you.
With your help, St. Louis Children’s Hospital will empower the most brilliant minds in medicine to create meaningful change in health systems, increase early interventions and develop innovative and accessible treatments for pediatric SCD. Together, we will ensure more children receive the sickle cell care they need to live their healthiest, happiest lives.
| CENTER FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE | |
|---|---|
| Endowed Director, Center Scholars and Clinicians | $8 million |
| Support for Scientific Infrastructure and Communication | $8 million |
| Seed Fund and Family Care Fund | $4 million |
| TOTAL | $20 million |