From the Nominator

This feature explores a groundbreaking sickle cell disease clinical trial at VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University as told through the experiences of the first participant. In 2023, VCU and CHoR were selected as Virginia’s only qualified treatment sites for a then newly approved gene therapy for sickle cell. The therapy involved knocking out the patient’s bone marrow, which triggered the body’s defense mechanisms to produce more stem cells. The extra cells were collected and sent to a partner company specializing in gene modification. The modified genes were returned to the patient via an autologous stem cell transplant. VCU and CHoR were designated as treatment sites because of their extensive history of treating sickle cell disease and this story further underscores VCU’s comprehensive care spanning birth to adulthood. Richmond’s own Florence Neal Cooper Smith, affectionately known as the “mother of sickle cell,” helped establish the Virginia Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness program on the Medical College of Virginia campus in 1972, the same year national legislation was passed that included required screenings for newborns. VCU Health invited our team to share the story of Walter, a sickle cell patient who agreed to participate in this clinical trial and whose successful outcomes could change the landscape for future sickle cell treatment. This story was published in the foundation’s NEXT magazine, which showcases innovative research and patient care at VCU Health. We reached more than 13,000 individuals through this story and shared a digital version online to about 3,000 newsletter subscribers.

From the Judges

Judges agreed, this piece is an effective promotion through great storytelling that captures the readers attention throughout.