| Featured Research  Sickle cell disease research and care: A century of progress
In 1910, Chicago physician James B. Herrick published a description of oddly shaped blood cells taken from dental student Walter Clement Noel, providing the first detail in Western medical literature of what has come to be known as sickle cell disease. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of sickle cell disease, the NHLBI is looking ahead to find new and better treatments; to develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines; and to launch a public awareness and education campaign to focus nationwide attention on sickle cell disease as a serious public health issue. Learn more about progress in sickle cell disease research and care Upcoming events: The James B. Herrick Symposium James B. HerrickThe James B. Herrick Symposium, Sickle Cell Disease Care and Research: Past, Present, and Future, will be held on the National Institutes of Health main campus in Bethesda, Maryland on November 16-17, 2010, to mark the centennial of the publication of Herrick's case report. Scientists, practitioners, academicians, members of the sickle cell community, and the public are invited to attend the event or follow it via videocast. Learn about the symposium NHLBI Diseases and Conditions Index (DCI) Sickle cell disease Sickle cell disease, also known as sickle cell anemia, is inherited. People who have the disease inherit two copies of the sickle cell gene—one from each parent. The gene codes for production of an abnormal hemoglobin. If a person inherits only one copy of the sickle cell gene, he or she will have sickle cell trait. People who have sickle cell trait do not have the disease, but they carry one of the genes that cause it. Similar to people who have sickle cell disease, individuals with sickle cell trait can pass the gene to their children. Learn more about sickle cell disease NHLBI Resources - Sickle Cell Disease Information Center
- NHLBI Sickle Cell Disease Awareness and Education Strategy Development Workshop Report (2010) (2068 KB PDF)
- Test your knowledge: Take the sickle cell anemia quiz
- Scan a list of organizations that focus on blood diseases and resources
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