The Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario Presents the 2022 Young Researchers’ Award Recipients

At the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario, we prioritize improving the health and quality of life of all individuals with sickle cell disease, including through innovative research. To continue making strides towards this goal, each year we award a grant to a sickle cell disease-related research project led by bright-minded students through our Young Researchers’ Award Program.

The 2022 Young Researchers’ Award recipients are a team of Masters students at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine: Geil Astorga, Fairuz Karim, Peola Ellis, Janine Noorloos, and Jaspreet Randhawa!

Focus: Their research will focus on the challenges that patients with sickle cell disease face when transitioning from paediatric care to adult care centres. A lack of shared-decision making, family/caregiver involvement, and self-care skills are all amongst the difficulties that patients may experience when undergoing this transition.

Goal: The goal of their project is to develop the Sickle Cell Disease Management Advocacy Guide and Resources for Transitioning Youth (SMART) Health App, which will integrate family cantered care and reduce barriers to care by raising awareness and knowledge on disease management.

Method: The team will first consult key opinion leaders and stakeholders to develop the contents of the app. They will then test the tool with key stakeholders and individuals with lived experience, incorporating their feedback into a refined version of the app.

Congratulations to Geil, Fairuz, Peola, Janine, and Jaspreet for your incredible work thus far and the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario is very excited to support your research!