Mount Sinai Health System Brings Bold Ideas in AI and Healthspan Science to Aspen 2025
New York, NY and Aspen, CO, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From the biology of aging to the future of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven medicine, Mount Sinai Health System will participate at the 2025 Aspen Ideas: Health (Sunday, June 22-Wednesday, June 25) and Aspen Ideas Festival (June 25-Tuesday, July 1) in Aspen, Colorado. Mount Sinai is proud to be a presenting underwriter of both festivals, where Mount Sinai thought leaders will lead discussions and the Health System will provide complimentary dermatologic screenings for attendees.
'We return to Aspen Ideas: Health and the Aspen Ideas Festival deeply inspired—by the setting, the community, and the shared pursuit of progress,' said Brendan G. Carr, MD, MA, MS, Chief Executive Officer and the Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Distinguished Chair, Mount Sinai Health System. 'This year, my colleagues will explore the emerging science of aging and inflammation and how Mount Sinai is harnessing AI to propel science and health care innovation. Our goal, as a learning health system, is to solve the world's most complex health and science challenges to improve health of people everywhere.'
Kicking off Mount Sinai's events during this year's festival, Dr. Carr will moderate the panel 'Living Better, Longer: The New Science of Healthspan' on Tuesday, June 24, 10:20 am to 11:10 am (MDT) in the East Lawn Tent. The conversation will center on the intricate mechanisms behind aging—from cellular health and genetic risk to current medical and technological solutions—that shed light on inflammaging, the chronic inflammation that accelerates age-related decline. The panelists will discuss advances in immune resilience, regenerative medicine, and neurosurgical and genetic interventions that could hold the keys to a future where we can all live longer, healthier, and more optimized lives. Panelists, all with Mount Sinai Health System and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, include:
Zahi Fayad, PhD, Founding Director of the Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute; Vice Chair for Research, Department of Diagnostic, Molecular, and Interventional Radiology; Lucy G. Moses Professor of Medical Engineering and Bioengineering.
Brian Kopell, MD, Director of the Center for Neuromodulation; Co-Director, The Bonnie and Tom Strauss Center for Movement Disorders; Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience.
Sarah Millar, PhD, Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Black Family Stem Cell Institute; Dean for Basic Science; and Lillian and Henry M. Stratton Professor of Gene and Cell Medicine.
Sanjai Sinha, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and an attending physician at The Health Center at Hudson Yards.
Mount Sinai will also host the panel 'Intelligence at the Edge: Reimagining and Propelling Health Care with AI,' also to be moderated by Dr. Carr, on Thursday, June 26, 2:10 pm to 3 pm (MDT) in the Booz-Allen Hamilton Room in the Koch Building. The panelists will discuss how AI is transforming health care for patients and providers. As the first academic medical system to launch a Department of AI and Human Health, Mount Sinai is building a learning health system that leverages diverse data—genomics, health records, and clinical, social and environmental data—to inform decisions that prevent disease, optimize health, and improve outcomes.
Dr. Carr will be joined by:
Robbie Freeman, DNP, RN, Vice President for Digital Experience and Chief Nursing Informatics Officer.
Nicholas Gavin, MD, MBA, Vice President, Chief Clinical Innovation Officer, and Associate Chief Medical Information Officer for Digital Health.
Girish Nadkarni, MD, MPH, Chair of the Windreich Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health; Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health; Irene and Dr. Arthur M. Fishberg Professor of Medicine; and Chief AI Officer.
Lisa Stump, Chief Digital Information Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System and Dean for Information Technology.
Other panels in which Mount Sinai Health System experts are participating include:
Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Executive Vice Chairman of the Mount Sinai Boards of Trustees, who served as Mount Sinai's Chief Executive Officer for 20 years until 2024, will participate on a panel titled 'Rethinking Aging' on Tuesday, June 24, 1:40 pm to 2:30 pm (MDT) at the Doerr-Hosier Center, McNulty Room.
Allison J. Applebaum, PhD, Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine and the Director of the Steven S. Elbaum Family Center for Caregiving, will participate in a panel titled 'Strengthening the Caregiving Economy' on Monday, June 23, 3 pm to 3:50 pm (MDT) in the Greenwald Pavilion.
Dermatologic Health Screenings
In addition, Mount Sinai clinicians will be onsite to provide complimentary dermatologic screenings at the Mount Sinai Health Experience, located in The Grove at Aspen Meadows. Screenings will be available from Sunday, June 22, through Tuesday, July 1. Appointments may be reserved in advance starting on Sunday, June 15, at Aspen@mountsinai.org. Event times and locations are subject to change; for the latest updates, visit www.mountsinai.org/aspen.
About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.
Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients' medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 11 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweek's® 'The World's Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals' and by U.S. News & World Report's® 'Best Hospitals' and 'Best Children's Hospitals.' The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report® 'Best Hospitals' Honor Roll for 2024-2025.
For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
CONTACT: Mount Sinai Press Office Mount Sinai Press Office newsmedia@mssm.eduErrore nel recupero dei dati
Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio
Errore nel recupero dei dati
Errore nel recupero dei dati
Errore nel recupero dei dati
Errore nel recupero dei dati
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
9 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Novo Nordisk A/S: Mim8 prophylaxis treatment shown to be well-tolerated when switching from emicizumab in people with haemophilia A in new phase 3 data presented at the ISTH 2025 Congress
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 23, 2025, 00:35 IST New FRONTIER5 data show that a direct switch to investigational Mim8 (denecimig) prophylaxis treatment from emicizumab, without the need for a washout period, was well-tolerated with no safety concerns in adults and adolescents with haemophilia A, with or without inhibitors 1 . . Switching to Mim8 led to a sustained increase in thrombin generation into the normal range, but without causing thrombin levels that might pose a thrombotic risk 1 . . FRONTIER5 Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) assessment found the Mim8 pen-injector easy to use, with strong user preference over their emicizumab injection system 2 . . These results add to the overall safety profile of Mim8 based on the FRONTIER clinical trial programme3. Bagsværd, Denmark, 22 June 2025 – Novo Nordisk today presented results from the phase 3b FRONTIER5 trial showing that a direct switch to investigational Mim8 (denecimig) prophylaxis from emicizumab treatment, without a washout period or Mim8 loading dose, was well-tolerated with no safety concerns in adults and adolescents living with haemophilia A, with or without inhibitors1. Additionally, a FRONTIER5 Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) assessment found the Mim8 pen-injector easy to use, with an overall strong user preference for the pen-injector compared to the previous emicizumab injection system2,3. The results were presented at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress in Washington, D.C. In the study, the first Mim8 maintenance dose was administered on the next planned emicizumab dosing day. Patients were given the option of switching to once-monthly, once every two weeks or once-weekly dosing frequencies of Mim8, regardless of their prior dosing frequency1,3. Steady-state Mim8 concentration was achieved by Week 16, and emicizumab elimination was completed by Week 261. Switching to Mim8 led to a sustained increase in thrombin peak levels without an exaggerated thrombin response1. 'Continuous prophylactic coverage is critical to avoiding breakthrough bleeds in people living with haemophilia; with new non-factor therapeutic options, many people could have hesitations about switching treatment options. These data demonstrate that switching to Mim8 from emicizumab can be done without requiring a washout period,' said Allison P. Wheeler, MD, Washington Center for Bleeding Disorders, Seattle, WA. 'This is critical in ensuring that individuals maintain continuous protection against bleeding events as we seek to help address the ongoing needs of people living with this complex disease.' The open-label phase 3b FRONTIER5 study consisted of 61 adults and adolescents, aged 12 years and older, with haemophilia A. Mim8 was well-tolerated with no safety concerns. No thromboembolic events, hypersensitivity reactions, or treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) leading to discontinuation were observed, and there was no clinical evidence of neutralising anti-Mim8 antibodies1. The PROs data from FRONTIER5 indicated a strong overall preference for the Mim8 pen-injector, with 97% (n=57/59) of patients reporting a 'very strong' or 'fairly strong' preference in comparison to their previous emicizumab injection system2. Of the participants who completed the Haemophilia Device Handling and Preference Assessment (HDHPA) questionnaire at week 26, 98% (n=58/59) found the Mim8 pen-injector 'very easy' or 'easy' to use, and 95% (n=56/59) found it 'much easier' or 'easier' compared with their previous administration method. All participants (100%) were 'extremely confident' or 'very confident' in using the pen-injector correctly, and most participants (83%; n=49/59) found it 'very easy' to inject the dose2. 'The FRONTIER5 safety and patient-reported outcomes data support Mim8 as a potential future treatment option for people living with haemophilia A and demonstrate our continued commitment to developing innovative treatment options for this community', said Stephanie Seremetis, chief medical officer and CVP for Haemophilia at Novo Nordisk. 'These results give valuable insights into haemophilia A management, highlight the feasibility of directly switching to Mim8 from emicizumab, and reveal a strong patient preference for the Mim8 pen-injector device.' Novo Nordisk expects to submit Mim8 for regulatory review during 2025. Data from the ongoing phase 3 FRONTIER programme will be disclosed at upcoming congresses and in publications in 2025 and 2026. About haemophilia Haemophilia is a rare inherited bleeding disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding4. It is estimated to affect approximately 1,125,000 people worldwide5. There are different types of haemophilia, which are characterised by the type of clotting factor protein that is defective or missing4. Haemophilia A is caused by a missing or defective clotting Factor VIII (FVIII), and haemophilia B is caused by a missing or defective clotting Factor IX4. Inhibitors are an immune system response to the clotting factors in replacement therapy. Currently, it is estimated that up to 30% of people living with severe haemophilia A develop inhibitors6 that can cause replacement therapies to stop working. About Mim8 Mim8 is an investigational FVIIIa mimetic bispecific antibody optimised with the aim to deliver improved potency and sustained efficacy across flexible dosing intervals up to once-monthly prophylaxis for people living with haemophilia A, with or without inhibitors7-10. Administered under the skin, Mim8 bridges Factor IXa and Factor X. This action replaces FVIII function, which helps restore the body's thrombin generation capacity into the normal range, helping blood to clot7,11. The use of Mim8 in people living with haemophilia A is investigational and not approved by regulatory authorities or available anywhere in the world. About the FRONTIER5 trial FRONTIER5 is a single-arm, open-label, 26-week, phase 3b trial evaluating the safety of switching from previous emicizumab prophylaxis treatment directly to Mim8 prophylaxis treatment using the Mim8 pen-injector in adults and adolescents with haemophilia A, with or without inhibitors3. The FRONTIER clinical programme investigates Mim8 as a prophylaxis treatment for people with haemophilia A, with or without inhibitors. This programme includes FRONTIER1, FRONTIER2, FRONTIER3, FRONTIER4 and FRONTIER53,12-15. About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit , Facebook , Instagram , X , LinkedIn and YouTube . Contacts for further information _______________________ References Oldenberg J, Benson G, Chowdaryet P, et al. FRONTIER5 direct switch study: Safety of initiating Mim8 prophylaxis without washout of emicizumab. Oral presentation presented at the Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2025; June 21-25 2025; Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C., US. Session code 13686. Mahlangu J, Ahuja S, Cockrell E, et al. FRONTIER5 device handling and patient-reported outcomes. Oral presentation presented at the Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2025; June 21–25 2025; Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C., US. Session code 13786. A Research Study Looking at How Safe it is to Switch From Emicizumab to Mim8 in People With Haemophilia A (FRONTIER5). Available at: Last accessed: June 2025. MedlinePlus. Hemophilia. Available at: Last accessed: June 2025. Iorio A, Stonebraker JS, Chambost H, et al. Establishing the Prevalence and Prevalence at Birth of Hemophilia in Males: A Meta-analytic Approach Using National Registries. Ann Intern Med. 2019;171:540–546. doi: 10.7326/M19-1208. Kim JY, You CW. The prevalence and risk factors of inhibitor development of FVIII in previously treated patients with hemophilia A. Blood Res. 2019;54:204-209. doi: 10.5045/br.2019.54.3.204. Ostergaard H, Lund J, Greisen PJ, et al. A factor VIIIa-mimetic bispecific antibody, Mim8, ameliorates bleeding upon severe vascular challenge in hemophilia A mice. Blood. 2021;138:1258-1268. doi: 10.1182/blood.2020010331. Mancuso EM, et al. Efficacy and safety of Mim8 prophylaxis in adults and adolescents with hemophilia A with or without inhibitors: Phase 3, open-label, randomized, controlled FRONTIER2 study. Abstract presented at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2024 Congress. Kenet G, et al. Patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes with subcutaneous Mim8 prophylaxis in paediatric patients with haemophilia A with or without factor VIII inhibitors: phase 3 FRONTIER3 study. Abstract presented at the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD) 2025 Annual Congress. Session 6. Chowdary P, Banchev AM, Kavakli K, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Mim8 Prophylaxis Administered Once Every Two Weeks for Patients with Hemophilia A with or without Inhibitors: Interim Analysis of the FRONTIER4 Open-Label Extension Study. Abstract presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2024 Annual Congress. Session: 322. U.S. National Library of Medicine. F8 gene. MedlinePlus Genetics. Available at Last accessed: June 2025. A Research Study Investigating Mim8 in People With Haemophilia A (FRONTIER1). Available at: Last accessed: June 2025. A Research Study Investigating Mim8 in Adults and Adolescents With Haemophilia A With or Without Inhibitors. Available at: Last accessed: June 2025. A Research Study Looking at Mim8 in Children With Haemophilia A With or Without Inhibitors. Available at: Last accessed: June 2025. A Research Study Looking at Long-term Treatment With Mim8 in People With Haemophilia A (FRONTIER4). Available at: Last accessed: June 2025. Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business Upturn
Novo Nordisk: Higher dose of Wegovy® provided average weight loss of 21% in people with obesity – with a third achieving 25% or more – according to data presented at ADA
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 21, 2025, 04:38 IST Higher dose of Wegovy® provided average weight loss of 21% in people with obesity – with a third achieving 25% or more – according to data presented at ADA Results from the phase 3b STEP UP trial showed that a higher dose of Wegovy ® (semaglutide 7.2 mg) delivered 21% weight loss in people with obesity, with a third of participants losing 25% or more of their weight, compared to placebo 1 (semaglutide 7.2 mg) delivered 21% weight loss in people with obesity, with a third of participants losing 25% or more of their weight, compared to placebo Safety and tolerability of the higher dose of Wegovy ® (semaglutide 7.2 mg) was consistent with the currently approved dose (semaglutide 2.4 mg) 1 (semaglutide 7.2 mg) was consistent with the currently approved dose (semaglutide 2.4 mg) The STEP UP data add to the existing evidence base on the value of Wegovy® in delivering significant weight loss and health gains for people living with obesity Bagsværd, Denmark, 21 June 2025 – Novo Nordisk today presented the results from the phase 3b STEP UP trial in people with obesity without diabetes at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions, in Chicago, US. In the STEP UP trial, the higher dose of Wegovy® (semaglutide 7.2 mg) demonstrated a mean weight loss of 21%, with a third of participants losing 25% or more of their body weight compared to placebo at 72 weeks.1 'The STEP UP trial demonstrated that we can increase the dose of semaglutide and achieve greater weight loss than previously seen, and in line with semaglutide's established safety profile. This may offer another option to people who do not attain their weight goals,' said Sean Wharton, lead study author and medical director of the Wharton Medical Clinic, Canada. 'We are already aware that semaglutide can have health benefits for people with heart disease, liver disease, knee osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. These findings help to give patients with obesity more options for improvements in their weight and overall health.' STEP UP co-primary endpoints at 72 weeks *1 : semaglutide 7.2 mg semaglutide 2.4 mg PlaceboWeight loss 20.7% 17.5% 2.4% 5% or more weight loss 93.2% 92.5% 35.7% When evaluating the effect of treatment regardless of treatment adherence, people receiving semaglutide 7.2 mg achieved 18.7% weight loss vs 3.9% with placebo, and 90.7% achieved 5% or more weight loss with semaglutide 7.2 mg vs 36.8% on placebo. 'With these results, semaglutide reaffirms its significant weight loss for people with obesity. The STEP UP trial delivers a substantial weight loss of over 20%, in addition to health benefits previously demonstrated with semaglutide,' said Ludovic Helfgott, executive vice president of Product & Portfolio Strategy at Novo Nordisk. 'As pioneers in obesity, we continue to develop new innovative treatments to fit the needs and preferences of people living with obesity. This includes maximising the value of semaglutide for individuals, healthcare systems and society, and developing a new oral formulation of Wegovy® that, pending FDA approval, can become the first GLP-1 pill to offer double-digit weight loss.' In the STEP UP trial, semaglutide 7.2 mg demonstrated a well-tolerated safety profile consistent with previous Novo Nordisk semaglutide trials.1 The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal, and the vast majority were mild to moderate during dose escalation and diminished over time, consistent with the GLP-1 class.1 In STEP UP, 3.3% of people treated with semaglutide 7.2 mg discontinued due to gastrointestinal adverse events, compared to 2.0% with semaglutide 2.4 mg and 0% with placebo.1 Novo Nordisk expects to file the higher dose of Wegovy® for a label update in the EU in the second half of 2025, followed by regulatory submissions in other markets where Wegovy® is already approved. STEP UP selected confirmatory secondary endpoints at 72 weeks * 1 : semaglutide 7.2 mg semaglutide 2.4 mg Placebo10% or more weight loss 86.0% 77.6% 20.0%15% or more weight loss 70.4% 57.5% 7.9%20% or more weight loss 50.9% 35.1% 2.9% 25% or more weight loss 33.2% 16.7% 0% * Based on the trial product estimand: treatment effect if all people adhered to treatment. About the STEP UP trials Novo Nordisk has completed two trials, STEP UP and STEP UP T2D, investigating the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 7.2 mg in people with obesity with or without type 2 diabetes. The 72-week STEP UP trial was a randomised, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, superiority trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 7.2 mg compared to semaglutide 2.4 mg and placebo as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention. The trial included 1,407 adults with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 without diabetes. The primary objective was to demonstrate superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss. Key confirmatory secondary endpoints included the number of participants achieving 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% weight loss, respectively. The 72-week STEP UP T2D trial investigated semaglutide 7.2 mg in 512 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, with the primary objective to demonstrate superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss. About Wegovy® Semaglutide 2.4 mg is marketed under the brand name Wegovy®. In the EU, Wegovy® is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obesity) or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition. In the EU, Wegovy® is also indicated for paediatric patients aged 12 years and older with an initial BMI at the 95th percentile or greater for age and gender (obesity) and body weight above 60 kg. The clinical section of the label also includes data on Wegovy® major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) risk reduction, improvements in HFpEF-related symptoms and physical function, as well as pain reduction related to knee osteoarthritis. In the US, Wegovy® is indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce the risk of MACE in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight, as well as to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in paediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity and in adults with obesity or with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition. About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit , Facebook , Instagram , X , LinkedIn and YouTube . Contacts for further information References Wharton, S, et al. (2025). Once-weekly semaglutide 7.2 mg in adults with obesity: the randomised, controlled, phase 3b STEP UP trial. 1966-LB poster. American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions, Chicago, US, June 20 – 23, 2025.17. Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business Upturn
ImpactLife shares highlights from World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day event
Davenport, Iowa, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ImpactLife hosted a special event at its Davenport, Iowa headquarters to recognize World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day as part of local celebrations of the Juneteenth federal holiday. The Juneteenth holiday — commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States — is also recognized as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day with the goal to increase public knowledge of sickle cell disease and the challenges experienced by patients and caregivers. Community members and blood center employees gathered on Thursday, June 19, to learn about the importance of blood transfusions in providing supportive care for sickle cell patients and to hear personal experiences from those who live with sickle cell disease, or who have lost loved ones to the genetically inherited blood disorder. Speakers included Beleta Rush, who shared writings and experiences from the lives of her two daughters, Lynn and Bobbie. View and download video clips from the event, below, or on the ImpactLife web site. Dr. Meredith Parsons, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology from University of Iowa, provided an overview on sickle cell disease, how it affects patients, and the importance of having appropriately matched units of blood available for patients who are likely to receive multiple rounds of blood transfusions throughout their lives. Shyneeta Rush, Supervisor, Donor Services, described the blood center's Red4Life program and efforts by the blood center to identify donors who are an appropriate match for sickle cell disease patients. Cheryl Easley, of the ImpactLife donor scheduling team, helped organize the event, and recognized sickle cell 'Warriors In Battle' as well as 'Winged Warriors,' who have passed after living with the disease throughout their lives. Lamour Bluitt has two sisters living with sickle cell disease, and has authored a book on their experiences, A Child Born with Sickle Cell: the Untold Secret. About Sickle Cell Disease Sickle dell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. It is the most common hereditary disorder and currently affects more than 100,000 Americans, predominantly people of African descent. The red blood cells in patients with sickle cell disease can become 'sickled' in shape, which can cause the cells to become stuck in small blood vessels. Patients can experience pain and anemia and are at increased risk for strokes and other types of organ damage. When patients experience a sickle cell crisis, red cell transfusion is a major form of therapy to relieve symptoms. Patients with sickle cell disease frequently receive transfusions of red blood cells to help treat symptoms of a sickle cell crisis. But finding appropriately matched units for sickle cell disease patients is a challenge for blood providers. With more frequent blood transfusions, patients with sickle cell disease can develop antibodies that are directed against red blood cell antigens. This process, called alloimmunization, makes it important for patients to receive antigen-negative blood types that are more generally found in donors of African descent. To help increase the diversity of the blood center's donor base, ImpactLife has created a donor program called Red4Life. Under Red4Life, the blood center identifies and recruits donors who may be an appropriate antigen match for patients with sickle cell disease. These donors are then invited to join the Red4Life program and receive special donor rewards and additional points to use in the ImpactLife Donor Loyalty Store. (Learn more at About ImpactLife ImpactLife's mission is to save lives by engaging donors, supporting partners, and advancing medicine. Founded in 1974, ImpactLife supplies blood products and services to hundreds of hospitals, emergency services organizations, clinical researchers, and other blood centers throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The nonprofit blood provider is ranked among the leading 12 blood suppliers in the United States. For more information on current blood inventory levels, our donor promotions, and more, see and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Attachments Beleta Rush ImpactLife – World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day group photo Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
