• Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) was first described in 1910.

• SCD was the first disease where a specific mutation was linked with a hereditary disease. (Pauling, L., Itano, H.A., Singer, S.J. & Wells, I.C. Sickle cell anemia: a molecular disease. Science 110 , 543–548 (1949).)

• While it remains a burden to affected individuals, and their families, research has led to important breakthroughs in management.

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