Scientists believe that one day it will be possible to cure an unborn child with thalassemia by inserting a normal gene into the child's stem cells. This would be known as gene therapy.
Thalassemia Research on Fetal Hemoglobin
Fetal hemoglobin is a type of hemoglobin produced by unborn babies and infants. At some point soon after birth, the body switches to making the adult type of hemoglobin.
However, in some children with thalassemia, a variant gene allows them to continue making fetal hemoglobin. Fetal hemoglobin lessens the severity of their illness.
Thalassemia research scientists are studying ways to enhance production of fetal hemoglobin in people with thalassemia.
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