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Louisiana Notches a Sickle Cell First
Newser • • health
Key Points:
- Daniel Cressy, a 23-year-old from suburban New Orleans, is the first person in the Gulf Coast region to be "functionally cured" of sickle cell disease using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing therapy.
- His two-year treatment at Manning Family Children's Hospital involved collecting his cells, genetically modifying them in Scotland, chemotherapy to eliminate sickle cells, and reinfusion of the altered cells.
- After a month of recovery, Cressy was declared functionally cured, a significant milestone for Louisiana, which has the highest sickle cell rate per capita in the U.S.
- Cressy, who had been barred from becoming a commercial pilot due to his condition, successfully appealed to the FAA, which now allows him to pursue his aviation career following his cure.
- He plans to focus on flying, authoring a book, and launching an aviation-focused nonprofit, highlighting the broader potential impact of this gene therapy for others with sickle cell disease.
