Last month, members of the Buckley Lab attended the 2025 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, where we were proud to present our work in sickle cell disease research.

Dr. Tara Urner, PhD, presented our latest findings demonstrating that optical measurements of the brain’s hemodynamic response to chronic blood transfusion are associated with cerebral vasculopathy in children with sickle cell anemia. These exciting results highlight the promise of optical biomarkers as a low‑cost tool for early detection and monitoring of vasculopathy development or progression.

Tisha Boodooram presented her research on how the brain changes in patients with sickle cell disease during pain crises, a common and debilitating complication of the disease. Her findings suggest that pain in sickle cell disease is associated with reduced cerebral blood flow and oxygen extraction, which together would be expected to impair oxygen delivery to the brain.

We are grateful to ASH for the opportunity to share our research to this vibrant community.

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Buckley Lab was invited to table at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s annual Sickle Cell Education Day. This year’s theme, “Supercells: Unlocking the Power Within,” brought together patients, families, and providers for a day of learning and community celebration. There, the Buckley Lab had the opportunity to share our research and engage with families affected by sickle cell disease. We are grateful to CHOA for inviting us to be part of such a meaningful day!

We are proud to share that Dr. Tara Urner has been selected as a postdoctoral fellow in the ATLANTIS Program (Atlanta Network for Training in Kidney, Urology, and Hematology Scientific Research), funded by the NIH and hosted by Emory University. Her research project will investigate the use of diffuse optical spectroscopies for early detection of vascular complications in pediatric sickle cell patients on chronic transfusion, aiming to advance noninvasive diagnostics in this vulnerable population. The ATLANTIS Fellowship will support Dr. Urner’s research and career development, providing access to an expanded mentorship network, leadership training, and interdisciplinary collaboration.