Imperial Sickle Cell Group
Researchers at Imperial hosted a visit for children living with sickle cell to tour the Hammersmith Campus.
What we do
The Imperial Sickle Cell Group at Imperial College London is a leading research and advocacy group dedicated to improving the understanding and treatment of sickle cell.
Our work focuses on advancing scientific research, raising public awareness, and using creative expression to highlight the realities of living with the condition.
In addition to scientific research, the research group organises events that blend education with art, using creative expression to engage the community. These events highlight artistic representations of the condition, providing a unique platform to share research findings and educational materials. By using art as a medium, we create opportunities for meaningful dialogue, helping to dispel myths about sickle cell and promoting health equity for those affected by the condition.
The Sickle CHARTA framework is our systematic approach and guiding philosophy
Sickle Cell Research
Did you know
Sickle cell, or sickle cell disorder/ anaemia, is an inherited condition that affects haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. Due to a genetic mutation, the cells become sickle-shaped, making them rigid and prone to blocking blood flow. This can result in serious health issues, including intense pain episodes (known as crises), fatigue, swelling in the hands and feet, chronic pain, stroke, slow growth in children, organ damage, lung and kidney problems, infections, fatigue and more. Over 7.74 million people worldwide are affected by Sickle Cell.
Sickle Cell can occur in any race or ethnic group. This genetic condition has long been associated with people of African descent; however, it can be found in many races and ethnic groups, including Middle Eastern, Latino, Asian, Mediterranean descent, and Caucasian.
We aim to build the capacity of researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates and categorise our developments. The Sickle CHARTA framework, a systematic approach developed in collaboration with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), is at the core of the group's research efforts.
The CHARTA framework stands for Coordination, Healthcare, Advocacy, Research, and Training in Africa, ensuring that research is comprehensive and responsive to the needs of affected populations, particularly in the African context. ISCG’s research spans multiple scientific domains, including clinical studies, biomedical research, genomics, and public health. The group integrates ethics, social, behavioural science, design research, population health, and health policy to address the complexities of Sickle Cell.
Current Clinical Research Studies
- Genomic Integrity and Safety of Stem-Cell Gene Therapy in patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Experience in United Kingdom.
- Descriptive Epidemiological Study of Adults with Sickle Cell Disease In UK: Experience from 5 years of a Single-Centre in West London, United Kingdom.
- Discovering novel genetic modifiers of haemoglobinopathies: a large-scale, multi-ethnic, genome-wide association study within the INHERENT Initiative.
- Understanding genome-wide mutational burden in patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Experience in the United Kingdom.
- Co-visualising the impact of Sickle Cell: How can we use design thinking to investigate and visualise the impact of Sickle Cell?
- How can research improve health in Sickle Cell Disease: From Implementation Science to Gene Therapy.
- Gene-environmental influence of space and microgravity on red blood cells with sickle cell disease: the time is now.
- Health Equity: Ethnicity-matched screening for control cohort in a Sickle Cell Disease genomic study at Hammersmith Hospital.
- Understanding hydroxycarbamide use in sickle cell: perspectives from patients and healthcare professionals