Millions worldwide live with sickle cell disease, the most common inherited blood disorder. Sickle cell disease is due to a single-point mutation in the ÿ-globin gene resulting in the production of abnormal hemoglobin. In the deoxygenated state, hemoglobin polymerizes to form relatively stiff filaments forcing red blood cells to assume an irregular shape. It is these “sickled” red blood cells that are thought to significantly contribute to, if not initiate, occlusion of small blood vessels ...