Hydroxyurea for young children with sickle cell anemia in sub-Saharan 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-11399209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Hydroxyurea is given to young children with sickle cell anemia in sub-Saharan Africa to improve health and reduce sickle-related complications.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $178,823 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HL133883-09S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children (from newborns up through about 11 years of age) with confirmed sickle cell anemia who can attend regular clinic visits and blood testing at participating sites.
✕Less likely to help
People without confirmed sickle cell anemia, adults, or children who cannot access regular monitoring and follow-up at the study clinics would likely not benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
This project treated infants and young children diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at hospital clinics in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Uganda. Doctors started hydroxyurea and increased doses to each child's maximum tolerated dose while monitoring blood counts, side effects, clinic visits, and sickle-related events. Over 600 children received treatment with more than 3,000 patient-years of follow-up, and the teams collected safety and outcome data even during the COVID pandemic. Newborn screening was used at sites to identify affected infants for early treatment and follow-up.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower sickle-related illness and deaths and expand access to an affordable, disease-modifying treatment for children in Africa.
How similar studies have gone: Hydroxyurea has a strong record of reducing complications in children with sickle cell anemia in high-income countries, and this program is among the first large efforts to show safety and benefit across multiple sites in sub-Saharan Africa.
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
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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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.
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.