Dr. Broyles’ project is one of 78 grants announced by the Gates Foundation in the fourth funding round of Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative to help scientists around the world explore bold and largely unproven ways to improve health in developing countries. The grants were provided to scientists in 18 countries on six continents.

To receive funding, Dr. Broyles showed in a two-page application how his idea falls outside current scientific paradigms and might lead to significant advances in global health. The initiative is highly competitive, receiving almost 2,700 proposals in this round.

The research of Dr. Broyles and The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc., of Oklahoma City. will build on the recent discovery that elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which alleviates sickle cell disease, can also confer malaria resistance. Broyles and his team will test the ability of a stable human protein to reactivate a silent gene that encodes for HbF, making red blood cells inhospitable to malaria parasites. If successful, the idea is to target the therapy in the host to reduce malaria infections.
Dr. Broyles earned the Ph.D. degree in biochemistry from Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, N.C., did postdoctoral research at Florida State University, has held faculty positions at the University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and has served as a visiting research scientist at the National Institutes of Health, the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory, and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. In 2006, Dr. Broyles founded The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc. (SCCF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research foundation dedicated to a universal cure for sickle cell and related diseases.
“We have discovered a way of shutting off the sickle cell gene and reactivating a fetal hemoglobin gene in its place, a switch known to stop all the bad, deadly manifestations of SCD,” says Broyles. “The realization that this same manipulation will make people resistant to malaria is even more exciting.”

“The winners of these grants show the bold thinking we need to tackle some of the world’s greatest health challenges,” said Dr. Tachi Yamada, president of the Gates Foundation’s Global Health Program. “I’m excited about their ideas and look forward to seeing some of these exploratory projects turn into life-saving breakthroughs.”

About Grand Challenges Explorations

Grand Challenges Explorations is a five-year, $100 million initiative of the Gates Foundation to promote innovation in global health. The program uses an agile, streamlined grant process – applications are limited to two pages, and preliminary data are not required. Proposals are reviewed and selected by a committee of foundation staff and external experts, and grant decisions are made within approximately three months of the close of the funding round.

Applications for the current round of Grand Challenges Explorations are being accepted through May 19, 2010. Grant application instructions, including the list of topics for which proposals are currently being accepted, are available at http://www.grandchallenges.org/explorations.

The arrival of the year 2010 is an exciting time indeed! Not only are we embracing the beginning of a brand new year, but a brand new decade as well. It’s a time of great possibilities and full of promise. A time of new beginnings, as we say goodbye to things of the past while ridding ourselves of the negative effects of old habits, patterns and thinking; and embark upon ‘the bold new NOW’, with great determination to better and/or to reinvent ourselves, to strive to be THE BEST we can be; be THE MOST we can be; progressing forward towards the attainment of our dreams and goals, and striving to arrive at our ultimate state of Zen in 2010. …In doing so, not only on an individual level, but on a community, national and global level as well, we are in fact, casting the mold of our tomorrows.

We are off to an excellent start, as you can now add to your list of New Year’s resolutions that while having an absolute blast this year while doing so, YOU can help eradicate a deadly disease off the face of the planet in the process! …Now I know some of you are probably thinking at this point that “Ms. Laura has worked with ONE TOO MANY rock stars in 2009,” but it’s the truth! (…About the eradicating a deadly disease thing anyway.) Allow me enlighten you to the details…

Via the hard work, dedication, and deep compassion of two absolutely brilliant men, Doctor and esteemed Bio Chemist Robert H. Broyles and Musician/Songwriter, Promoter, Talk Show Host, Radio Personality J. R. Perry III, an immense amount of suffering worldwide can be eliminated this year by the eradication of the deadly disease Sickle Cell Anemia for which Dr. Robert H. Broyles HAS THE CURE; and by which J. R. Perry is helping to raise the funding, (and awareness), needed to get this cure to those who need it, (and to hasten the process of doing so), via organizing a series of super dynamic concerts worldwide, featuring renowned and/or legendary acts in every genre imaginable.

(Dr. Robert H. Broyles left, J. R. Perry right.)

Dr. Robert H. Broyles, who is the Founder and President of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, and has discovered/developed a cure for the disease via primarily the utilization of Gene Regulation Therapy, and has secured and obtained the US patent for this proven way it would work on April, 14, 2009.

(Though Dr. Robert H. Broyles actually discovered a way in which the cure would work as early as 2006; though getting it into the hands of those who need it is an extremely slow moving and arduous task, largely due to the extreme amount of bureaucratic ‘red tape’ involved in the process.)

SCCF’s patents in Australia, and the European Union, (France, Germany, and Greece), are also already secured and maintained through Dr. Broyles’ outstanding work to not only end this deadly disease, but quite possibly Parkinson’s Disease and other diseases as well, through Gene Regulation Therapy and Iron Management.

Not only is Doctor Robert H. Broyles an incredibly brilliant scientist, (one of the Principal Investigative Scientists in the field of Gene Regulation Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease, with over thirty-five years of research experience to add to his extraordinarily impressive and numerous credits), Dr. Broyles is an extremely kind man of sincere and deep care and compassion for those he has dedicated his life to heal. ‘Doctor Bob,’ (as I have nick named him out of my ultimate respect and admiration for him as both a scientist and as a great individual), shares an example of the many e-mails from people all around the world, which greatly moves Dr. Broyles, and serves as his driving force for doing the amazing and outstanding work that he does. Here is one example of the many e-mails in which Dr. Robert Broyles receives regularly: “Please, I beg you in the name of the most high-grade God. How do I access the cure? This pain is too much. Please don’t let me die. Please.” Needless to say, Dr. Robert H. Broyles is not only a man of exceptional mind, but also a man of exceptional heart and soul as well, for the work he has done and continues to do with great determination and dedication; which in my opinion, is worthy of a Nobel Prize. I would also like to add that out of the many renowned stars that I have worked with over the years as a PR, Press and Media Relations Specialist, (mostly in the music industry, though I have also written for/about a number of high profile, US political figures as well), I have to say that Dr. Robert H. Broyles is indeed THE brightest shining true ‘superstar’ I have ever had the pleasure of working with thus far!

Another great man of uncommon valor and brilliance in his own fields of expertise who is working hard to bring this cure, (and expedite the process of doing so), to those in need of it is J. R. Perry III; who is in the process of organizing a series of multi-artist concerts worldwide to both, generate funding and awareness concerning this deadly disease.

Because, (to spite misconceptions), Sickle Cell Anemia is a disease that effects people of ALL races, in all countries, and of all social economic status, renowned Promoter and long time Sickle Cell Disease Activist, J. R. Perry’s exciting concert tour, (“The Cure Every Cell Tour”), will feature a dynamic array of outstanding artists from every genre imaginable to strategically generate as much ‘broad audience appeal’ as possible to both educate, (on a very large scale), about this deadly and extremely painful disease, dispel the many misconceptions concerning this disease, and to raise the necessary funding to complete the final stages of clinical trials required, (by the medical regulations in the US), before making this cure available to patients within the US. (Though notably, Dr. Broyles’ procedural cure is currently already available outside of the US in a number of other countries.)

J. R. Perry’s dedicated involvement as both a Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Activist and his hard work and effort at organizing a massive world tour to combat this disease and bring forth the cure is nothing less of a labor of love. J. R. Perry’s own ten year old son Jameel suffers from Sickle Cell Disease, and has already endured a stroke, (at age 9), and has to receive regular blood transfusions, suffers chronic pain, as well as has a potentially life threatening compromised immune system because of this disease.

Ten year old, Jameel Perry, son of J. R. Perry III.

Though we are at the beginning phases of organizing this historic ‘tour for the cure’, amongst the first outstanding artists to join this effort includes blues, R&B and jazz legend Chick Willis, (www.myspace.com/chickwillis), sizzling Latin/salsa sensations Orquesta Fiesta, (www.myspace.com/clarasalsa), jam’s absolutely smoking and super fast rising band Bodhi, (www.bodhilive.com), and prolific Vocalist Dan Shafer, (known for his work with a number of renowned bands such as Mercenary, featuring Rusty DAddio of Ronnie James Dio and Richie Blackmore); and well renowned for his work in numerous commercials, and is the Executive Producer of The Rock & Load Show, amongst Dan’s immense and impressive list of professional credits; (www.myspace.com/danshafer). And most recently, joining in this effort will be world renowned Latin and jazz recording artist Eddie Benitez. (www.myspace.com/eddiebenitez).

More respected artists will be listed in upcoming press releases as they come aboard on this project: as we at Mindsweep Entertainment & Promotions are embarking on a massive PR, press and media, (and cross promotional), campaign to further promote this very important, life saving and history changing tour, (and as a promotions ‘perk’ for the artists, sponsors and to everyone associated with this tour, as a token of our sincere and immense amount of appreciation for their involvement and help): and of course, to keep everyone updated on upcoming concert dates, the artists involved, upcoming TV and radio appearances and news concerning this tour. J. R. Perry III incidentally, is also the Owner of Love Drop Radio, where artists involved with this tour will be featured as guests on Love Drop Radio’s esteemed programming to further promote this noble cause.

Renowned artists that would like to add extra concert dates to their 2010 concert schedule while helping to eradicate this deadly disease in the process by getting involved can do so by contacting me, Laura Jenney at any of the following e-mail addresses: VPofMindsweep@aol.com, Jcongalady@aol.com or laura@tntbooking.com, or by calling 904-378-8357. (The Jcongalady@aol.com e-mail address always gets seen and answered the quickest.)

Concert venues and corporate sponsors that would like to get involved with this phenomenal opportunity and make a huge humanitarian difference via this project and vital cause, please contact J. R. Perry III by e-mail at Lovedropradio@hotmail.com or myself at VPofMindsweep@aol.com. (Sponsorship incentives are absolutely exceptional and unbeatable, I might add!)

For more information about the outstanding work that Dr. Robert H. Broyles and all of those at work at The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation are doing, please visit their web site at http://www.sicklecellcurefoundation.org.

To make a much needed and appreciated donation to help bring forth the cure and to wipe Sickle Cell Disease, (and quite possibly other diseases as well), donations can be made by:

• Clicking on the gold Donate button on the upper right hand side of this webpage, and use a credit card through PayPal; Or…
• Send a check addressed to:
  The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation
  601 NW 13th Street
  Oklahoma City , OK 73103.

The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation Inc., or (SCCF), is a nonprofit corporation registered in the State of Oklahoma. It’s 501(C) (3) status has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States as of February 12, 2007; and all donations are tax deductible.

And that’s how YOU TOO can help eradicate the deadly disease Sickle Cell Anemia off the face of the planet while having an absolute blast doing so, simply by attending a concert on the “The Cure Every Cell Tour” coming to a concert venue near you very soon! Now isn’t that an absolutely GREAT resolution to start out a New Year and decade? …I’m talking WAAAAY more fun than trying to quit bad habits, dieting and exercise!

The End.

General purpose:

Education and scientific research.

Specific purpose:

The purpose of the SCCF is to bring the cure that we have discovered to clinics around the world. For this goal to be accomplished costs associated with completing the patent process, validating the cure clinically, and performing safety trials in animals and humans must be paid. We seek donors as partners in this endeavor.

In vitro studies have shown that β-thalassaemic red cells are invaded at the same rate as normal red cells and that the rate of parasite growth is also indistinguishable from normal. However, both in human red cells and in transgenic mice carrying human γ-genes, it has been found that those which contain human fetal Hb are associated with ineffective development of P. falciparum or P. yoelli (Pasvol et al, 1977; Shear et al, 1998). As there is strong evidence that the rate of decline of fetal Hb after birth is delayed in β-thalassaemia heterozygotes (Weatherall & Clegg, 2001a), this could provide a mechanism of protection during the first year of life, but no longer; the studies of Passvol et al (1977) suggested that retardation of parasite growth required 5-7 pg/Hb F per cell. Source: Weatherall, David J. (Professor Sir). “Genetic Variation and Susceptibility to Infection: the Red Cell and Malaria” British Journal of Haematology. Vol. 141, 2008. p. 280.

Indeed! If one were to revive and sustain the body’s production of HbF — the infantile “mechanism of protection” (HbF) of which Dr. Weatherall speaks so eloquently — then one would have discovered by association not only a cure for SCD but also a novel, genetically based approach to the control and management of malaria. Such a discovery would be on a totally different order of magnitude. To wit, some 370 million new cases of malaria occur each year – over a thousand times the incidence of new SCD cases. WHO and the CDC estimate global malaria mortality to be 800,000 with 90% of the victims children below the age of 5.

In 2006 Dr. Broyles demonstrated how to activate and sustain the HbF “trigger” – a discovery which forms the operational basis for the SCCF project. SCCF is in possession of a discovery that provides a phenotypic “cure” for SCD and may also confer a resistance to malaria!

SCCF

The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc. (SCCF) is a nonprofit corporation registered in the State of Oklahoma. Its 501(C) (3) status has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States as of February 12, 2007. Thus, all donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible. The date of SCCF’s incorporation was July 28, 2006.