Overview
My research has focused on the epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of the pulmonary and central nervous system complications of sickle cell disease and includes retrospective and prospective cohort studies and clinical trials. I received my Ph.D. in clinical investigation from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for a series of studies to identify predictors of cognitive function in children with sickle cell disease. This work has expanded to the evaluation of the interaction between environment and disease in both children and adults and the functional evaluation of adults with sickle cell disease. My other research interests include the application of large clinical, research, and administrative databases to the study of rare hematological diseases and interventions to improve quality of and access to care for sickle cell disease. I serve on the American Society of Hematology Sickle Cell Taskforce and Sickle Cell Pain Guideline Panel and am co-chair of the American Society of Hematology Healthcare Professional Education and Training Work Group.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Scholarly Works
The SickleFit Tele-Exercise Program for older adults with sickle cell disease: feasibility, acceptability, safety study.
Journal article Blood Red Cells Iron · August 25, 2026 Despite increases in lifespan, people with sickle cell disease (SCD), experience accelerated functional impairment. Recognizing the critical need for interventions to maintain mobility and independence, we piloted SickleFit for feasibility, acceptability, ... Full text Link to item CiteA novel US-based grading system for disease severity in sickle cell disease: the Sickle Cell Outcome Grading System (SCOGS).
Journal article Lancet Haematol · June 2026 Sickle cell disease is a haematological disorder marked by recurrent events and progressive organ dysfunction, yet a standardised framework to assess disease severity is lacking. We developed a novel US-based severity grading system through identification ... Full text Link to item CiteFrailty phenotype in adults with sickle cell disease.
Journal article J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci · May 7, 2026 BACKGROUND: People with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for accelerated biological aging and functional decline due to both age and SCD-related stressors. Frailty is characterized by decreased physiologic reserve and increased vulnerability to stress ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
DISC 3405-102
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Disc Medicine Inc. · 2026 - 2030Education and Mentoring to BRing Access to CarE SCD Network Southeast, Southeastern Sickle Cell Disease Regional Care Excellence (SoRCE) Program
Public ServicePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Health Resources and Services Administration · 2026 - 2030Advancing a Holistic Understanding of Variability in Lived Experience with Sickle Cell Pain
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2025 - 2030View All Grants