First national sickle cell research center proposed for Southern University

Jet, Feb 28, 1994

Louisiana's senior Black congressman introduced legislation on Capitol Hill to authorize a $21 million grant to establish the first National Center for Sickle Cell Disease Research at Southern University.

In his championing of the sickle cell center in his state, Rep. William Jefferson said that nearly one in 375 Blacks are afflicted with sickle cell anemia. Almost 130,000 Louisiana residents carry the sickle cell trait and almost 4,000 suffer from the disease, he reported.

"Despite this chilling statistic, there is no national research center seeking a cure for the disease and now it is time for Congress to address this tragic oversight," stressed the New Orleans lawmaker in making the bid for Southern University, described as the largest predominantly Black university in the country.

"Besides seeking a cure for sickle cell disease," said Rep. Jefferson, "this national research center will provide a training ground for African-American students, both graduate and undergraduate in medical research techniques.

He maintained that Louisiana has already appropriated $7 million to match the proposed $21 million federal grant the Department of Health and Human Services would provide for such a center. He also noted that Southern University had devoted significant financial aid and personnel resources toward development of the research center.

In recent years, the federal government has established ten comprehensive sickle cell programs but has not developed a national research center.