FL H8073

Recognizes June 19, 2023, as "World Sickle Cell Awareness Day" in Florida.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder causing abnormally shaped red blood cells that block blood flow, leading to vaso-occlusive crises with severe pain and organ damage.

Affects approximately 100,000 Americans, with incidence of 1 in 365 Black or African-American births and 1 in 16,300 Hispanic-American births; more than 8,000 Floridians have the disease.

Sickle cell disease causes shortened life expectancy of 20 to 30 years and severe complications including stroke, infections, and pulmonary embolism; patients face barriers including limited geographic access to care, lack of insurance, and shortage of specialized providers.

National Institutes of Health is developing gene therapies that could offer potential cures, with one-time gene editing approaches under development that may provide substantial lifetime cost savings.