Sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia major are major haemoglobin disorders which cause significant morbidity and mortality in India. However, preventive strategies have not been comprehensively implemented in India. To address this, a program aimed at creating a model for control of major haemoglobin disorders in India has been developed.
The project – ‘Control of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease in Odisha’ is a first of its kind venture worldwide, which is expected to provide extensive and relevant public education and diagnosis combined with establishment of services for counselling, testing and pre-natal diagnosis with opportunity for safe medical termination of pregnancy, if needed.
This program is being implemented by the Centre for Stem Cell Research (a unit of inStem, Bengaluru) and Christian Medical College, Vellore in collaboration with National Health Mission of the Government of Odisha. The program is funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. Support has also been obtained from the CSR program of the REC Foundation, New Delhi.
FUNDING & SUPPORT
