The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded a $386,000 Project Grant under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) to The Leland Stanford Junior University, also known as Stanford University. The grant supports the development of chemical modulators to deplete the BCL11A protein, which is a validated target for treating sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. The research aims to leverage proximity-based protein degradation techniques, such as proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glues, to induce fetal hemoglobin production as a potential curative approach for these genetic hematologic disorders. The award period runs from Jul 1, 2024, to Apr 30, 2028, and the project will involve extensive ligand optimization and the creation of cell- and organ-specific delivery mechanisms to advance these BCL11A degraders into viable therapeutic leads.