Social study of Thalasseamia and Sickle Cell

Sickle Cell research

Sickle Cell research is led by Professor Simon Dyson, Director of the Unit for the Social Study of Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell, in the faculty of Health and Life Sciences at De Montfort University in the United Kingdom.

The unit has been working with a number of other experts across the country to carry out pioneering research into Sickle Cell and the issues faced by members of society.

Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the collective name for a number of inherited blood conditions that mainly affect people of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Mediterranean descent. 

Clinical manifestations include episodes of chronic and acute pain, and strokes. The known number of people living with SCD will increase from the current estimate of 15,000 over the next decade as all newborn infants and most pregnant mothers will be screened for SCD. 

Prior to this research little was known about the impact of Sickle Cell on the educational experiences of young people. The research includes all social aspects of the world’s leading genetic conditions, Sickle Cell Thalassaemia.