Bringing hydroxyurea to people with sickle cell disease in Nigeria
Official title: mAnaging siCkle CELl disease through incReased AdopTion of hydroxyurEa in Nigeria (ACCELERATE)
Funded at New York University · NIH-11394743 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project helps clinics in Nigeria screen for sickle cell disease and use hydroxyurea more often so people with SCD can get a proven medicine that lowers pain and complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $227,383 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HL168084-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394743 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People of any age in Nigeria diagnosed with sickle cell disease and who meet local clinical criteria for hydroxyurea are the intended candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without sickle cell disease, those living outside participating Nigerian clinics, or individuals with medical reasons that prevent hydroxyurea use (for example pregnancy or severe blood count abnormalities) are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
If I have sickle cell disease in Nigeria, this effort would help clinics find people with SCD, start them on hydroxyurea using a simple step-by-step approach (screen, initiate, maintain), and keep them on the right dose over time. Providers will get training and task-sharing support so more clinics can safely prescribe and follow patients on hydroxyurea. The work builds on the REACH protocol and aligns with Nigerian government guidance and essential medicines lists. Patients will be followed at participating clinics with regular visits and monitoring as the program is rolled out.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, many more people with SCD in Nigeria could access hydroxyurea, which can reduce pain crises, hospital visits, and premature death.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts such as the REACH trial have shown hydroxyurea can be used safely and effectively in African settings, but widescale implementation and sustained adoption remain less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peprah, Emmanuel K — New York University
- Study coordinator: Peprah, Emmanuel K
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A study looks at how nutrition, from early life to adulthood, influences sickle cell disease by examining neutrophils and disease severity in people with SCD and in a mouse model.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.