Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinical and Research Center

At the Lea's Foundation Center for Hematologic Disorders

A Comprehensive Approach

The Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinical and Research Center at the UConn Health Center is a regional Adult Sickle Cell Center. It is dedicated to providing quality patient care to adults living with sickle cell disease with a focus on research, education and advocacy.

The Best Possible Care

Making choices about your treatment can sometimes be difficult and you want to make sure you receive the best of care. As a patient at the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinical and Research Center, we provide full comprehensive sickle cell care that focuses on prevention as well as acute care.

You will have access to a team of expert hematologists, pain management specialists, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, researchers, and a patient navigator that can assist you with the medical and emotional aspects of sickle cell disease. You are a team member in developing your plan of care.

Services Offered

Our Center offers simple and exchange blood transfusions. We are the only site in the region to offer erythrocytapheresis. Other services include:

• Diagnosis of sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and other hemoglobinopathies
• Ongoing ambulatory care and treatment for patients with sickle cell disease
• Same day pain episode management utilizing a day hospital strategy
• Preventative health
• Individualized emergency room pain management plan
• Management of pain, iron overload and other sickle cell related complications

We offer expertise in the management of:

• Chronic pain
• Iron overload
• Priapism
• Retinopathy
• Chronic ulcers
• Nephropathy
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Other complications

Our Team

Biree Andemariam, M.D., is the director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinical and Research Center. She is a graduate of the Tufts University School of Medicine where she graduated with research honors. She completed her internship, residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital–Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Other team members include:

• Pain management specialists
• Nurse practitioners
• Nurses
• Social workers
• Researchers
• Patient navigator
• Community advocates

Community Outreach and Alliances

• Alliance with community-based sickle cell disease organizations
• Active participation in the Connecticut statewide Sickle Cell Disease Stakeholders Group
• Department of Public Health
• Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
• Federally qualified community health centers

Research

In addition to caring for individuals with sickle cell disease, we conduct research aimed at developing new
treatments for the disease.

For more information on research opportunities, call 860-679-3327 or email sicklecell@uchc.edu.