# Indoor environmental exposures and pulmonary inflammation and morbidity in sickle cell anemia

> **NIH NIH K23** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $199,535

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award will provide S. Christy Sadreameli, M.D., M.H.S.
with experience and training to become an independent investigator in pediatric pulmonology with a focus on the effects of
environmental exposures on pulmonary morbidity and inflammation in sickle cell anemia (SCA). Despite advances in the
prevention and treatment of SCA, affected children and young adults continue to suffer from a substantial amount of
pulmonary morbidity, including episodes of acute chest syndrome (ACS) and respiratory symptoms such as cough and
wheezing. Few modifiable risk factors have been identified in SCA, but emerging data suggest that exposure to SHS and
other environmental factors are associated with pulmonary morbidity. Indoor environmental exposures such as secondhand
smoke (SHS) and sensitization/exposure to mouse and cockroach are potential sources of pulmonary inflammation and
morbidity in SCA. This proposal focuses on these common exposures that are likely to occur in the homes of children with
SCA, many of whom live in cities and are impacted by poverty. This proposal will extend Dr. Sadreameli’s previous line
of research that demonstrated a strong association between a biomarker of tobacco exposure (salivary cotinine) and SCA
morbidity. This project will link objective measurement of SHS, mouse, and cockroach exposure with clinical pulmonary
outcomes and several non-invasive measures of neutrophilic and eosinophilic lower airway inflammation to provide novel
data about the impact indoor environmental exposures have on pulmonary morbidity and inflammation in SCA. Aim 1 will
evaluate associations between SHS, pulmonary outcomes, and neutrophilic inflammation. Aim 2 will evaluate associations
between allergic sensitization and exposure to mouse and cockroach, pulmonary outcomes, and eosinophilic inflammation.
With this proposal, Dr. Sadreameli will build upon her previous experience and training to gain valuable expertise in
environmental exposure assessment and non-invasive measurement of lower airway inflammation. This research project is
likely to lead to future clinical trials of environmental modification of home-based interventions. Further, it will provide
meaningful data about the inflammatory mechanisms of lower airway disease in SCA. Dr. Sadreameli has assembled a
multidisciplinary research team with extensive research and mentorship experience. Her primary mentor, Sharon McGrath-
Morrow, M.D., is a pediatric pulmonologist who will provide scientific mentorship with focus on measurement of
pulmonary inflammatory and physiologic outcomes and career mentorship. Her co-mentors include James F. Casella, M.D.,
a pediatric hematologist who will provide training and expertise related to sickle cell disease pathophysiology and
biomarkers of systemic inflammatory outcomes, Michelle Eakin, Ph.D., a behavioral psychologist who will provide training
in behavioral modification and ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10163894
- **Project number:** 5K23HL138227-04
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sara Christina Sadreameli
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $199,535
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10163894

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10163894, Indoor environmental exposures and pulmonary inflammation and morbidity in sickle cell anemia (5K23HL138227-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10163894. Licensed CC0.

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