How does sickle cell disease affect a child and that child's family?

That's what Dr. Monica Mitchell wants to find out, and now she'll have some funding to help her understand the psychological impact of the disease.

Mitchell, 33, an assistant professor of psychology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati, received a fellowship and $15,000 grant from the American Association of Medical Colleges to continue her research on the topic.

The Herbert W. Nickens Minority Faculty Fellowship is awarded to one junior faculty member out of all the medical schools in the country.

The research, done through focus groups in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, is something no one else is doing and is important in understanding how to help families in a culturally sensitive way to deal with the disease, Mitchell said.

The disease affects one in 400 African-Americans in the United States. There are 250 children in Greater Cincinnati with sickle cell disease.

Mitchell, along with colleagues at Children's, is also part of a community research program called Innovations. Participants work with community agencies, such as the YWCA, Head Start and Girls on the Run.

"I'm really committed to the outcomes of my research and the long-term help it can provide, but I also really appreciate being able to do things that can help kids today," said Mitchell, of Anderson Township.