Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Emory University received a $797,648 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), effective June 1, 2026, through February 28, 2031. The research project, titled "RBC-Bound Cell-Free DNA as a Predictor of Acute Anemia in Sickle Cell Disease," will be conducted at Emory's Atlanta, Georgia campus. This award supports basic and translational research investigating the mechanisms underlying acute anemic crises in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients, with a focus on understanding how cell-free DNA (cfDNA) binding to toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) on red blood cells modulates red blood cell clearance and immune activation.

The research deliverables will include mechanistic studies using clinical samples from SCD patients combined with murine models to examine the impact of RBC-TLR9 and cfDNA on red blood cell clearance, and to evaluate the contribution of RBC-TLR9 engagement on immune activation in the context of SCD pathophysiology. The project aims to establish cfDNA as a predictive biomarker for acute hemoglobin drops and associated vaso-occlusive complications, ultimately contributing to improved understanding of disease exacerbations and informing potential therapeutic interventions for this patient population.