An observational study in Sickle Cell Disease, sponsored by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Recruiting at 6 sites in United States. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-04.
Sponsored by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · Observational
Despite the important work of previous sickle cell disease (SCD) cohort studies, there remain many understudied areas that require investigation. An important knowledge deficit is the slow but progressive process of chronic end-organ dysfunction. The majority of organ dysfunction becomes apparent in the young adult years, but comprehensive assessment of adults and understanding of predictors of adulthood organ dysfunction are insufficient. Similarly, the role of disease-modifying therapies, such as hydroxyurea, in preventing organ dysfunction later in life is not clear. Extended follow-up of patients through the transition into adulthood is imperative to understand the long-term implications of pediatric sickle cell care.
This observational study will collect data in a systematic fashion at participants' regular clinic visits (in-person or remote) to answer the objectives described below.
In addition to primary study objectives, SCCRIP participants will be eligible to participate in a sub-study, which will investigate genetically determined responses to Hydroxyurea (HU) via a pharmacokinetic study (PK). This one time study will involve blood collection at timed intervals proceeding a dose of HU. Defining the basis for this inter-individual variability will allow the identification of poor HU responders prior to initiation of therapy and the seeking of alternative treatments which seek to optimize disease treatment by accounting for individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle.
The St. Jude Pediatric SCD Program has developed a comprehensive plan of care that spans the ages of 0 to 25, and provides the structure for screening and monitoring disease progression and complications in infancy, childhood, and young adulthood. From age 0 to 18, SCD patients are followed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. At age 18, their care is typically transferred to either the Methodist Adult Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Center in Memphis, TN, or the Regional One Health, Diggs-Kraus Sickle Cell Center in Memphis, TN, where they are routinely followed from age 18 to 25 years. After age 25, participants will be followed and invited to return to St. Jude every 6 years for study related tests until participants elect to come off study or until death.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Methodist Adult Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Center and the Regional One Health Diggs-Kraus Sickle Cell Center, in Memphis, TN serve as enrolling centers for the SCCRIP protocol. Two St. Jude Affiliate locations will also be sites of enrollment for this protocol for patients age 0 to 18 years. These include St. Jude Affiliate sites located in: Peoria, Illinois and Charlotte, North Carolina. Approximately 300 additional participants are expected to be enrolled from these affiliate sites. This protocol will collect data on SCD participants from birth to end of life.
The SCD plan of care provides the specific sequence of laboratory and imaging studies that are performed according to the patient's age and expected course of illness. The following health outcomes are systematically monitored in patients with SCD: hematologic indices, pulmonary function, cardiac function, renal function, cognitive function, cerebral vasculopathy, vitamin D deficiency and bone health, parvovirus B19 immune status, ophthalmologic status, and splenic function. These tests are used to direct the patient's clinical management and initiate therapies when necessary.
Participants will be administered a developmental evaluation at approximately 1 year of age. The evaluation will utilize standardized performance-based measures as well as parent rating scales lasting approximately 2 hours. Domains assessed will include cognitive, motor, language, and adaptive development.
A Neuropsychological Screener may be completed with participants within the Young Adult and Adult cohorts, every 6 years. The screening will include a series of verbal and nonverbal problem-solving activities, pencil \& paper tasks, and will include a computerized component.
Quality of Life evaluations (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) will be offered.
In this study, the results of these tests will be collected and entered into the study database, providing longitudinal data that will inform health outcomes research regarding SCD and how the course is altered by disease-modifying therapy, in addition to facilitating future interventional projects.
Primary Objectives:
Secondary Objectives:
Other Pre-Specified Objective:
1,103 studies on the registry are indexed under Anemia, Sickle Cell; 235 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 10,000 is above the median of 100 across 287 observational studies indexed under Anemia, Sickle Cell.
Browse Anemia, Sickle Cell studies →St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is the lead sponsor of 434 studies on the registry; 99 are open to participants now.
Of its 60 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 35 (58%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Participants with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease of any genotype.
SCCRIP Inclusion Criteria:
PK Sub-study Inclusion Criteria:
SCCRIP Exclusion Criteria:
PK Sub-study Exclusion Criteria:
Relationship between treatment plan and health outcomes in participants with sickle cell disease (SCD)
As described in the Detailed Description, standard of care data will be collected from participants every two years during participants' annual clinic visits until study participation is discontinued or until participants reach death/end of life, whichever occurs last. This collection of observational data will be entered into a study database and will serve as a research resource to facilitate evaluation of health outcomes in participants with SCD from pediatric care into adulthood.
Time frame: Every 2 years from newborn to ≤ 30 years of age, and every 6 years after age 30 until end-of-life, up until December 2044
Relationship between genetic properties of biological samples and health outcomes in participants with sickle cell disease
A repository of biological samples from participants with sickle cell disease will be established for future retrospective studies investigating genetic and epigenetic contributions to disease severity, response to treatment, and morbidity and mortality.
Time frame: Collected every 6 years from newborn until end-of life, up until December 2044
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