The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America launched a sickle cell disease clinical trial finder, a centralized, simple-to-navigate website to help people with sickle cell disease, their families, and caregivers find clinical trials.

Clinical trials help pharmaceutical companies collect data about the effectiveness and safety of sickle cell disease treatments and can provide participants with new treatments before they become widely available. Participants can use the clinical trial finder website to search for trials by keyword, location, study type, and phase, now listed in one place.

“Until now, people with sickle cell disease had to search far and wide to find clinical trials,” said Beverley Francis-Gibson, president and CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. “The clinical trial finder provides a one-stop shop for patients and their families to discover, learn about, and connect with trials that are critical to discovering therapies and treatments for sickle cell disease.”

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disease causing red blood cells to take a sickle shape, which leads to blockages that prevent blood from reaching parts of the body. As a result, people with sickle cell complications can experience anemia, jaundice, gallstones, stroke, chronic pain, organ damage, and premature death. No universal cure exists.

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America advocates for people affected by sickle cell conditions and empowers community-based organizations to maximize quality of life and raise public consciousness while advancing the search for a universal cure. The association and more than 50 member organizations support sickle cell research, public and professional health education, and patient and community services.