William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund Recognizes Dr. Gary Gibbons, NHLBI Director

The William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund in celebration of September’s National Sickle Cell Awareness Month is recognizing the accomplishments of Dr. Gary Gibbons, Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

“Under the leadership of Dr. Gibbons, NHLBI has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes for those living with this blood disorder. Research funded by NHLBI and NIH supported studies have helped extend the lives of those who have sickle cell disease,” Dr. Malcolm Joseph III, medical director for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland and board member of The William E. Proudford Fund Sickle Cell Fund, said in a press release.

Founded in 2005, the William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about sickle cell disease and the need for new therapeutic treatments, social support, and finding a universal cure.

Gibbons previously served as the founding director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute, chairperson of the Department of Physiology, and professor of physiology and medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine. He will be presented with the Distinguished Service Award on Sept. 7 at the fund’s  annual “Rockin’ the Red” fundraiser.

“We applaud (Gibbons’) outstanding commitment to sickle cell research and the engagement of the larger community,” Joseph said.

The eleventh annual event will also  honor clinical research teams.

Proceeds from the event that will also include a dinner and silent auction will benefit the fund’s artSPEAKS program, awareness and advocacy activities, and sickle cell treatment programs. Pfizer is the signature sponsor,

The NHLBI is part of the of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and conducts and supports research for the diagnosis, therapy and management of several heart, blood vessel, lung, blood, and sleep disorders and diseases. Research funded and conducted by the NHLBI had led to significant advances on the fight against sickle cell disease.

Visit www.wepsicklecell.org or email the organization at [email protected] to make a donation or attend the benefit. WBFF Fox45 news anchorPatrice Sanders is scheduled to serve as mistress of ceremonies.