Hydroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell Disease 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-11606509 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A safe and feasible use of hydroxyurea for young children with sickle cell disease in several African countries to reduce illness and improve daily life.
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) | $282,506 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HL133883-10S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11606509 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa, especially under 12 years old, who can be closely followed at participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
Children with contraindications to hydroxyurea or without reliable follow-up may not experience benefits.
What this research studies
This project tests giving hydroxyurea to children under 12 with sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa to see how well it works in real-world settings. Researchers have already treated hundreds of children across Angola, DRC, Kenya, and Uganda and are sharing safety and benefit data collected over years. The study design focuses on escalating to the maximum tolerated dose and monitoring outcomes in collaboration with local healthcare teams. Results aim to show whether this affordable medicine can lower hospital visits and improve quality of life for African children with SCA. If successful, the approach could guide wider use of hydroxyurea in similar settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce painful events and hospitalizations for children with sickle cell disease in Africa and inform broader, affordable treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior African data from REACH show safety and feasibility with substantial treatment experience and patient-years.
Where this research is happening
-
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
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Hydroxyurea to help children with sickle cell anemia in Africa
A pediatric study tests hydroxyurea treatment for young children with sickle cell anemia in several African countries to see if it can reduce illness and improve health.
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Hydroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell in Africa
A pilot study tests hydroxyurea in young children with sickle cell disease across several African countries to see if it can reduce illness and hospital visits.
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Hypoxemia during Sleep in Sickle Cell Disease: How Common is It and How Might Treatments Help
This study looks at how low oxygen during sleep affects adults with sickle cell disease and how they respond to therapy across multiple urban and rural sites.
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Hypoxic red blood cells for sickle cell anemia using the Hemanext ONE system
A new approach using special low-oxygen red blood cells from the Hemanext ONE system is being tested to help adults and children with sickle cell anemia who rely on frequent transfusions.
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Hydroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell Anemia in Africa
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.
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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.