NIH terminates North Carolina sickle cell research grant

DURHAM, N.C. — What was supposed to be a five-year, $750,000 NIH grant to fund Dr. Charity Oyedeji’s sickle cell research at Duke University – was terminated.

“I thought it was possible,” Oyedeji said when asked if she anticipated her research being impacted. “I thought as a Black investigator, studying a population that is predominately Black, I am at risk.”

Oyedeji told WRAL she received the letter on June 16, but the bigger shock came when she took a closer look at the specific verbiage used in the termination letter itself regarding her K-Award.

“The words that were used were very non-scientific, very racist,” Oyedeji said. “Really negative language.”