CHICAGO — The University of Illinois-Chicago has received a $2 million federal grant to research chronic pain experienced by patients with sickle-cell disease.
The school announced the grant and planned research on Tuesday. School spokesmen said researchers will try to find out why sickle-cell patients have chronic pain and try to develop medicines to treat the pain.
Associate Professor Z. Jim Wang is lead researcher for the four-year study. Wang said the neurobiology of pain in sickle-cell disease is poorly understood.
According to the university, more than 70,000 Americans are affected by sickle-cell disease, which can damage lung tissue and cause excruciating pain and stroke.
