Gary M. Brittenham, MD performs research in pediatric hematology with the overall objective of improving the care of children with anemia, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and other disorders affecting red blood cells.

Along with his colleagues, this present research projects aim to: develop a new, noninvasive optical method to detect and measure iron deficiency without the need for a blood sample; develop a new, noninvasive magnetic method to detect and measure iron overload in the liver without the need for a liver biopsy; develop new non-radioactive methods to measure iron absorption and loss; develop and evaluate new, orally active iron-chelating agents for the treatment of iron overload; determine the effects of malaria and other infections on anemia and iron homeostasis; improve the safety of red blood cell transfusions; and determine if monthly oral vitamin D treatments can reduce the risk of respiratory complications in children with sickle cell disease.

The Division's goals are to contribute to scholarly inquiry into pediatric hematology and to help train the next generation of investigators.