Hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell anemia in sub‑Saharan Africa

Realizing Effectiveness Across Continents with Hydroxyurea(REACH): A Phase I/II Pilot Study of Hyroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell Anemia

['FUNDING_U01'] · CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR · NIH-11399211

This project gives hydroxyurea to young children with sickle cell anemia in sub‑Saharan Africa to find safe dosing and reduce sickle‑related complications.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorCINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR (nih funded)
Locations1 site (CINCINNATI, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11399211 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

As a parent or young patient, you would get early diagnosis and daily hydroxyurea at a local clinic with doctors slowly increasing the dose to the highest safe level while checking blood tests and health events. The program ran at sites in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Uganda and collected thousands of patient‑years of follow‑up. Clinicians tracked safety, painful crises, hospital visits, and transfusion needs while adapting treatment to local health systems. The approach is open‑label and focused on making hydroxyurea practical, safe, and beneficial for children across African settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Young children (infants through about 11 years old) with confirmed sickle cell anemia who can attend regular clinic visits at a participating site are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Adults, people without sickle cell anemia, or children who cannot attend regular monitoring visits may not receive benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower painful crises, hospital visits, and early deaths for children with sickle cell anemia in Africa by making hydroxyurea safe and accessible.

How similar studies have performed: Hydroxyurea is already proven to reduce complications in children with sickle cell anemia in high‑income countries, and REACH provided large-scale data supporting its safety and benefit in African settings.

Where this research is happening

CINCINNATI, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.