-- The G6PD Deficiency Foundation is working to increase awareness of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a genetic condition that can pose serious health risks when it goes undiagnosed. Through education, family resources, and newborn screening advocacy, the nonprofit aims to help more families and healthcare professionals recognize the condition and understand the importance of early identification.
Led by founder and president Keely Harris, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit has made education and screening awareness central to its mission. The Foundation supports greater consideration of G6PD deficiency for inclusion on the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP), a federal resource that helps guide states as they determine which conditions to include in newborn screening programs.
Inclusion on the RUSP can help bring national attention to a condition and encourage broader consideration of screening practices. For the Foundation, the goal is to help ensure that families have access to the information and testing needed to identify G6PD deficiency as early as possible.
For Harris, this mission is deeply personal. The Foundation’s work grew out of her experience with her grandson, whose severe newborn jaundice associated with G6PD deficiency was initially misdiagnosed. That experience reinforced her determination to help other families understand the condition and recognize the importance of timely diagnosis.
“We look forward to a day when every G6PD-deficient child is diagnosed at birth,” Harris says.
G6PD deficiency is an inherited enzyme deficiency that affects red blood cells. It is one of the most common genetic enzyme deficiencies worldwide, affecting an estimated 400 million people. Many individuals may not know they have the condition until exposure to certain medications, infections, foods, or other oxidative stress triggers that cause health complications.
In newborns, G6PD deficiency can be associated with severe jaundice, which requires prompt recognition and appropriate medical care. Increased awareness among parents and healthcare professionals can help support timely evaluation and informed medical decisions.
“Not another child!” is the message at the heart of the Foundation’s work. Since 2015, the organization has developed educational resources covering genetic inheritance, newborn jaundice, screening, and living with G6PD deficiency. Through its website, G6PDDF.org, the Foundation provides information for families, individuals, and healthcare professionals seeking to better understand the condition.
“We are a grassroots organization that advocates for awareness, education, and screening for G6PD deficiency,” Harris says. “With knowledge of having the condition, people can live healthy, normal lives, but tragedy is possible for those who are undiagnosed.”
Newborn screening and perinatal care remain important areas of focus for the Foundation. Identifying G6PD deficiency early can help families and healthcare providers better understand an infant’s health needs and determine whether additional monitoring or evaluation is appropriate. The Foundation encourages families to discuss screening options and potential risk factors with qualified healthcare professionals.
Understanding how G6PD deficiency is inherited is also important. The condition is associated with variants in a gene on the X chromosome and can affect males and females differently. Enzyme activity testing can help clinicians assess G6PD status, although results must be interpreted in the context of an individual’s circumstances. Some females may have enzyme activity levels that vary because of X-chromosome inactivation, making appropriate testing and follow-up particularly important.
For the Foundation, awareness is about more than identifying a genetic condition. It is about helping families and healthcare providers access reliable information that can inform medical decisions, guide precautions, and support long-term well-being. Earlier recognition can help affected individuals understand potential triggers and take appropriate steps in consultation with their healthcare teams.
The organization is also planning a public webinar in Winter of 2027 focused on G6PD deficiency with an emphasis on awareness, education, and screening for both males & females. Importance of G6PD deficiency and Prenatal Health will also be discussed.The event is intended to make information more accessible and encourage informed conversations about how the condition can present differently among individuals.
Through its educational resources, community engagement, and continued focus on newborn screening, the G6PD Deficiency Foundation hopes to help more families recognize the importance of early diagnosis. Harris believes that greater understanding of G6PD deficiency can help families and healthcare professionals make informed decisions before a medical emergency occurs.
By bringing together personal experience, accessible education, and screening awareness, the Foundation continues working toward a future in which families have better access to the knowledge and resources needed to protect the health of anyone affected by G6PD deficiency.
Contact Info:
Name: Keely Harris
Email: Send Email
Organization: g6pd Deficiency Foundation
Website: https://g6pddf.org
Release ID: 89205893
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