Garcia-Martinez will investigate "Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease." Garcia-Martinez is internationally known for his expertise in developing gene therapy models in HIV infection and hemoglobinopathies.
"A long-term goal of our center's laboratory research is to understand how altered red blood cell membranes lead to the formation of rigid sickle cells and how best to implement gene therapy that will ultimately cure the disease," Buchanan said. "There have been many advances in treatment during the past two decades that improved the lives of these patients, but some of the therapeutic approaches may fail or have harmful side effects."
Buchanan, who oversees the sickle cell disease program at Children's, said 600 patients are treated for the disease each year by UT Southwestern faculty physicians. Approximately 2,000 babies are born with the disease each year in the U.S., and better management of the disease now enables patients to live into middle age, according to the NIH.
Among the center's activities will be clinical programs for adults with sickle cell disease, serving patients at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Zale Lipshy University Hospital and St. Paul University Hospital. Dr. Cynthia Rutherford, professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern, will direct the adult program with the assistance of a full-time nurse coordinator.
A patient service core will provide education and genetic counseling in conjunction with community outreach and will be staffed by a newly hired patient service coordinator. A full-time genetics counselor, funded as part of the grant, will be added to the staff at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Dallas Chapter, to work with Children's and UT Southwestern physicians.
In addition, a Scholars Program will foster the career development of young physicians and other health-care professio
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Contact: Barbara Bedrick
barbara.bedrick@utsouthwestern.edu
214-648-3404
UT Southwestern Medical Center
16-Sep-2002