Ghana Sickle Cell Consortium (SPARCo)
Official title: Ghana-SPARCO: Ghana Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium
Funded at Kwame Nkrumah University/science/tech · NIH-11088155 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Creating a national patient registry and care network in Ghana to improve understanding and care for people of all ages with sickle cell disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kwame Nkrumah University/science/tech NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kumasi, Ghana) |
| Project start | May 10, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $350,302 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HL157004-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088155 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People of any age in Ghana with sickle cell disease, and their caregivers, are the ideal candidates to join the registry and related programs.
✕Less likely to help
People without sickle cell disease or those who live outside the participating regions in Ghana are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
I would be asked to share my medical history and clinical data so doctors can better track sickle cell disease across Ghana. The project enrolls patients into a registry, links participating hospitals and clinics, and supports screening and prevention efforts like newborn testing and patient education. It also trains local healthcare staff and builds systems to follow patients over time to learn which care practices reduce complications. The goal is to use this information to improve treatments and health policies for people with sickle cell disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier diagnosis, better follow-up, and policies that lower illness and deaths from sickle cell disease in Ghana.
How similar studies have gone: Previous SPARCo activities and other regional registries have helped track patients and inform care improvements, and this project expands that coordinated effort within Ghana.
Where this research is happening
-
Kwame Nkrumah University/science/tech
Kumasi, Ghana Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarfo, Fred Stephen — Kwame Nkrumah University/science/tech
- Study coordinator: Sarfo, Fred Stephen
Related research
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-
Understanding aging and health outcomes in older adults living with HIV in Ghana
This study is looking at the health challenges older adults over 50 with HIV face in Ghana, like frailty and chronic diseases, and aims to find better ways to help them get the care they need to improve their quality of life.
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.