Howard University Hospital’s Center for Sickle Cell Disease last week announced the receipt of $11 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health for sickle cell research.

The grants will support a focus on continuing research of sickle cell patients who show a resistance to the HIV virus. Funds will also support scholarship and research support to medical students at the university.

“These grants put Howard University in the forefront of advanced research,” said Sergei Nekhai, Ph.D., virologist and professor in the College of Medicine. “Howard has strong expertise which allows us to expand HIV and sickle cell research.”