Thalassemia - Other Places To Get Help

The Hereditary Blood Disorders Team of the Centers for Disease Control works to prevent and reduce complications experienced by people with certain hereditary blood disorders: bleeding disorders, thrombophilia (clotting disorders), and thalassemia.

Cooley's Anemia Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving people afflicted with various forms of thalassemia, most notably the major form of this genetic blood disease, Cooley's anemia (thalassemia major). The foundation's mission is to advance the treatment and cure for thalassemia, enhance the quality of life of people who have it, and educate the medical profession, trait carriers, and the public about this fatal blood disease. The foundation encourages donations of blood, since thalassemia patients are the single largest users of blood supplies in the nation, and also sponsors chapters and support groups.

The March of Dimes tries to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and early death. March of Dimes supports research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies' lives. The organization's Web site has information on premature birth, birth defects, birth defects testing, pregnancy, and prenatal care. You can sign up to get a free newsletter and also explore Understanding Your Newborn: An Interactive Program for New Parents.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) information center offers information and publications about preventing and treating heart, lung, and blood diseases.

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) supports genetic and genomic research, investigation into the ethical, legal, and social implications surrounding genetics research, and educational outreach activities. (Genome refers to a complete gene sequence in a organism.) NHGRI also supports the training of investigators and provides genome information, including fact sheets and school materials, to the public and to health professionals.