Screening for Alpha Thalassemia in Healthy Volunteers

Running, not enrolling

Conditions studied: Alpha Thalassemia

In brief

Background: Alpha thalassemia is a blood disorder. It is caused by genetic deletions. Part of the DNA is missing from a group of genes called alpha globin. Alpha thalassemias are some of the most common genetic deletions. We are testing for alpha thalassemia trait. Alpha thalassemia trait is when someone has only two out of the normal four alpha globin genes. In some people, they lead to no symptoms. Others have changes that lead to disease, including mild anemia. Researchers want to learn more about alpha thalassemia and blood vessels. This may allow them to develop new treatments for blood diseases such as sickle cell disease. Objective: To better understand how alpha globin deletions in healthy people affect blood vessels. Eligibility: Healthy volunteers ages 18-39 who self-report African ancestry. Design: Participants will provide a one-time saliva sample. This can be by mail, in-person at a study event, or at NIH. Participants will get a small kit to collect their saliva sample. The kit has easy instructions. The sample does not need to be put in the refrigerator. Participants will spit a small amount of saliva (less than half a teaspoon) into a collection tube. Participants will close the funnel lid tightly, and then unscrew the funnel lid from the tube. They will then close the tube tightly with the small cap provided and shake the tube for 5 seconds. Participants will place the tube in the provided envelope and mail it to NIH. The specimen will be stored and processed in the lab. Participants may be invited to participate in more research studies, whether or not researchers find that they have alpha thalassemia trait.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT02692872
Run by
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
People needed
367
Starts
2017-04-17
Expected to finish
2027-12-31
Last updated by the study team
2026-04-24

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 39. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may not qualify if…

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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