Center for Inherited Blood Disorders Selected to Lead Federal Initiative to Improve and Expand Sickle Cell Care Across the Western United States
November 4, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Center for Inherited Blood Disorders (CIBD) announced that it has received an award by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to serve as the West Region Coordinating Hub for the new Sickle Cell Disease Regional Care Excellence (SoRCE) Program. The federal award positions CIBD to build on years of work increasing access to comprehensive sickle cell care in California and extend that approach across the United States as one of seven awardees selected nationwide to lead a regional hub.
In partnership with co-principal investigators at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation (SCDF), CIBD will bring together clinical expertise and community-based partnerships to strengthen care coordination, expand access to specialized services, and better support individuals and families living with sickle cell disease (SCD) across the western United States.
“Patients don’t want to be defined by their disease. They want to live their lives to the fullest, and our job is to make sure they have access to the care and support that makes that possible,” said Diane Nugent, MD, Board President, President, and Founder, Center for Inherited Blood Disorders. “Through Networking California for Sickle Cell Care, we’ve been building connections between specialized, adult clinics to help more people living with sickle cell disease get the care they need. This award allows us to expand on that work and bring the same spirit of collaboration and commitment to patients across the West. We want every person living with sickle cell disease to have the opportunity to live a full, healthy life, no matter where they call home.”
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited red blood cell condition which affects over 100,000 individuals nationwide and disproportionately impacts Black and Latino communities. Despite advances in care, individuals living with SCD continue to face barriers to accessing specialized care, qualifying for genetic therapies, gaps in provider education, stigma, and limited research.
To address these challenges, the SoRCE Program will expand the nation’s regional sickle cell care network from five to seven regions. Each hub will collaborate with clinical and community-based partners to improve access to expert care, enhance provider education, guide patients through their transition from pediatric to adult services, support individuals and families living with SCD, and strengthen connections between health care systems and community organizations.
“This work is about making sure people living with sickle cell disease are seen, heard, and supported, not left to navigate the health care system on their own,” said Matthew Cianciulli, MSC, CHC, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Inherited Blood Disorders. “There are people across the West doing incredible work for the sickle cell community, but too often they’re working in silos. We have a chance to bring providers, community organizations, and patients together to make it easier for patients to get the care they need. That’s how we turn a regional initiative into something people can actually feel in their lives.”
About the Center for Inherited Blood Disorders
The Center for Inherited Blood Disorders (CIBD) has cared for hundreds of children and adults in Southern California, offering a safety net clinic that provides health care services specifically to patients with inherited blood disorders. CIBD has been able to increase access to care for those who are economically challenged by providing medical care regardless of ability to pay. CIBD is also a national leader in directing federal initiatives to promote regional blood disorder networks that provide team-based clinical care and uniformly track health outcomes. Learn more by visiting www.cibd-ca.org.