Hydroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell 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-11606510 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $178,823 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HL133883-10S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11606510 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children aged 0-11 with sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa who can be monitored for safety and treatment response.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with contraindications to hydroxyurea or without access to regular follow-up may not experience benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests hydroxyurea in children aged 0-11 with sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa. It uses a prospective open-label design to escalate the dose to the maximum tolerated dose and monitors safety, feasibility, and clinical benefits over time. Data from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Uganda are analyzed to understand how well this therapy works in Africa and how it can be implemented in real-world settings. The study builds on WHO recommendations and aims to provide actionable evidence for treating children who have limited access to disease-modifying therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could reduce sickle cell complications and mortality in African children by making hydroxyurea a feasible treatment option.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in high-income countries showed benefits of hydroxyurea; this trial expands evidence to Africa with real-world feasibility data.
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 Disease in Africa
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.
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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.