WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the University of Cincinnati received a $320,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Sickle Cell Demonstration Program, which will enable Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to enhance the prevention and treatment of sickle cell disease. U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH) wrote a letter to the Health Resources and Services Administration at HHS requesting funding for this grant.

“This is great news for all those who suffer the debilitating effects of sickle cell disease,” Sen. Voinovich said. “Transitioning back into normal life activities following extensive medical treatments is a real challenge. Thanks to this funding, people who have already endured so much will receive assistance during that transition as well as training so they can be independent once again.”

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, aims to provide a medical home for the transition of medically fragile sickle cell adolescents and young adults and offer them vocational training while transitioning to the care of an adult hematologist for their sickle cell disease management. Funding for the Sickle Cell Demonstration Program will allow for coordination of service delivery, counseling and testing.

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