HHS Expands Sickle Cell Care Nationwide with Seven New Regional Hubs
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on October 20 announced seven awards through its new Sickle Cell Disease Regional Care Excellence (SoRCE) Program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The awards establish Regional Coordinating Hubs to help people with sickle cell disease access high-quality care and community services closer to home.
"Americans living with sickle cell disease should not have to travel long distances or overcome unnecessary barriers to receive effective care," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "Early treatment can prevent serious complications and help patients live healthier lives. The Trump Administration is expanding access to proven treatments and specialized care so more patients can get the support they need in the communities they call home."
"People living with sickle cell disease deserve access to high-quality care and support close to home," said HRSA Administrator Tom Engels. "Through the SoRCE Program, HRSA is strengthening regional networks that connect clinical expertise with trusted community partners so more individuals and families can get the care and services they need."
Approximately 100,000 people in the United States live with sickle cell disease, according to HHS. Early and ongoing treatment can prevent or reduce serious complications, yet many people face barriers to preventive care, specialty services, and disease-modifying therapies, and the SoRCE Program aims to improve access and quality of care while tracking indicators of quality of life. Administered by HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the program expands HRSA's regional sickle cell care network from five to seven regions; each Regional Coordinating Hub will partner with at least three clinical-community spokes, each including a clinical center and at least one community-based organization, and HRSA also intends to award a nationwide technical assistance contract. HHS said HRSA's previous sickle cell investments have helped more than 75% of people with sickle cell disease across America receive disease-modifying therapy.
The FY 2026 SoRCE award recipients listed by HRSA are: Northeast Region — Rhode Island Hospital, Rhode Island; Mid Atlantic Region — Thomas Jefferson University, Pennsylvania; Southeast Region — Duke University, North Carolina; South Region — University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama; Midwest Region — Children's Hospital Medical Center, Ohio; Heartland Region — Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri; and West Region — The Center for Comprehensive Care & Diagnosis of Inherited Blood Disorders, California.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：镰状红细胞电子显微镜图像（资料图）。美国国家心肺血液研究所 NHLBI，公共领域／Photo: Scanning electron microscope image of sickle red blood cells (file photo). National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), public domain
