LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 27, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Foundation to Support Cell Transplant Research (NFCTR) today announced that it has received a $50,000 grant from the WHAS Crusade for Children in Louisville, Kentucky. It is the second grant made by the Crusade to NFCTR, bringing their total contribution to $100,000.
The grant will help children with sickle cell disease (SCD) living in Kentucky and Southern Indiana participate in a clinical trial being conducted at the University of Louisville and Duke University.
Based on the discoveries of Dr. Suzanne Ildstad, Director of the Institute for Cellular Therapeutics at the University of Louisville, the treatment involves a "mini" bone marrow transplant that is performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require a perfect donor match (fewer than 30% of children have a matched donor).
"We are grateful to the Crusade for their vision and leadership in making a difference for so many children in our community who suffer from inherited red blood cell disorders that may be cured with this research," states Dr. Paula Grisanti, Chair of NFCTR.
SCD is a painful, debilitating and ultimately fatal inherited disease that affects approximately one out of every 500 African-American children and one out of every 1,000 Hispanic-American children. About 2 million Americans, or 1 in 12 African-Americans, carries the trait. It is associated with frequent hospitalizations and complications that include stroke, pain crises, acute chest syndrome, renal failure and central nervous system disease. At present, there are between 70,000 and 100,000 diagnosed cases of SCD in the United States. Another 1,000 babies are born with the disease in the U.S. every year.
Current treatment regimens for SCD include monthly blood transfusions and multiple daily oral medications. Depending on severity, the estimated cost of care ranges between $50,000 and $70,000 per year for the life of the child.
The success of a "mini" bone marrow transplant eliminates the need for ongoing treatment, does not require a perfect donor match and is performed as an outpatient procedure. A cure for SCD is also a cure for thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia); 4% of the world's children suffer and die young from one of these two inherited blood disorders.
In a Louisville Courier-Journal article earlier this year (February 21, 2010), Dr. Ildstad said "study results are promising" – with two of six patients cured and a third doing well. The potential for a cure has generated excitement among other scientists nationwide. Researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago plan to begin treating sickle cell patients through the study in about six months.
Dr. Ildstad's work has generated continuous funding to the University of Louisville from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Foundation to Support Cell Transplant Research (NFCTR).
About the National Foundation to Support Cell Transplant Research (NFCTR)
Formed in 2005, the National Foundation to Support Cell Transplant Research (NFCTR) was established to support peer-reviewed research and early stage clinical trials in the field of adult stem cell transplantation. Adult stem cell research has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of a large number of diseases and conditions affecting people worldwide. The NFCTR funds research in a number of strong academic settings and supports both collaboration and information sharing wherever possible. Through the funding of these collaborations, the NFCTR hopes to create stronger opportunities for advancements in the field. For more information, visit www.nfctr.org or call (502) 379-8544.
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About WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc.
Established in 1954 by WHAS-TV, the WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. raises money for non-profit agencies, schools and hospitals to better the lives of special needs children. Millions of children have been helped by the Crusade and in its first 57 years, thanks to generous contributions that include goods and services, the Crusade has raised more than $138 million. In turn, the Crusade returns 100% of all donations received to numerous organizations that serve special needs children in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 Southern Indiana counties. For more information visit www.whascrusade.org .