Assessing Molecular Mechanisms and Effects of Music Therapy in Youth With Sickle Cell Disease Using Single-cell RNA-sequencing

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a 4-week music therapy (MT) intervention can reduce chronic pain and improve psychosocial outcomes in youth with sickle cell disease (SCD). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does MT reduce pain intensity, frequency of pain episodes, and improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL)? * Does MT alter immune cell composition and gene expression in inflammatory pathways, as measured by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)? Researchers will compare participants randomized to music therapy versus a control condition to see if MT produces superior improvements in pain and psychosocial outcomes, and distinct molecular changes.

NCT Number	NCT07562451
Lead Sponsor	Emory University Collaborators: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Conditions	Sickle Cell Disease
Enrollment	25 participants
Start Date	2026-07
Primary Completion	2028-04 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-04 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-01