Hydroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell Anemia in Africa
Official title: Realizing Effectiveness Across Continents with Hydroxyurea(REACH): A Phase I/II Pilot Study of Hyroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell Anemia
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11414854 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A safety and feasibility pilot study tests giving hydroxyurea to young children with sickle cell anemia in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce illness and death.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $344,224 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HL133883-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11414854 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children aged 0-11 with diagnosed sickle cell anemia in participating African countries who can be monitored regularly.
✕Less likely to help
Children with contraindications to hydroxyurea or those unable to undergo regular follow-up may derive little or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests hydroxyurea in children ages 0-11 with sickle cell anemia across several African countries. It uses a open-label design to escalate dosing to the maximum tolerated level and monitors safety, practicality, and health benefits in real-world African settings. The study builds on prior experience from REACH, aiming to generate data that could support wider use of a WHO-listed, affordable therapy for children with SCA in Africa. Researchers collaborate with hospitals in Angola, DRC, Kenya, and Uganda to collect long-term safety and efficacy information. The goal is to make a disease-modifying option more accessible where it is most needed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to safer, more effective use of hydroxyurea for African children with SCA, reducing complications and mortality.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data from REACH showed safety and potential benefits in African children, supporting expansion to additional settings.
Where this research is happening
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Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ware, Russell E — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Ware, Russell E
Related research
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Hydroxyurea to help children with sickle cell anemia in Africa
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Hydroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell in Africa
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Hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell anemia in sub‑Saharan Africa
This project gives hydroxyurea to young children with sickle cell anemia in sub‑Saharan Africa to find safe dosing and reduce sickle‑related complications.
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.