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-11399210 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project gives hydroxyurea to young children with sickle cell anemia in sub‑Saharan Africa to reduce painful crises, hospital stays, and early 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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $196,803 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HL133883-09S4 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399210 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young children (newborns through about 11 years) diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at participating sites in sub‑Saharan Africa are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children without sickle cell anemia, adults, or patients with medical contraindications to hydroxyurea (for example severe bone marrow suppression) would not be expected to benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
If your child has sickle cell anemia, this program offers hydroxyurea treatment and follows children prospectively at clinics in four African countries. The effort began with neonatal screening to diagnose infants and then started hydroxyurea, gradually increasing each child's dose to their maximum tolerated level. Over 600 children received treatment and the teams collected more than 3,000 patient‑years of safety and outcome data, despite COVID challenges. Clinics tracked sickle‑related events, side effects, and practical delivery issues to show whether routine use of hydroxyurea is safe and feasible in these settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower pain crises, infections, hospitalizations, and early deaths among children with sickle cell anemia in sub‑Saharan Africa.
How similar studies have gone: Hydroxyurea has a long history of success in children with sickle cell disease in high‑income countries, but REACH is among the first large programs testing safe dosing and delivery across multiple African 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
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
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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.