Hydroxyurea treatment 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
Hydroxyurea given to young children with sickle cell anemia in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce pain, infections, 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 ID | NIH-11384188 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child has sickle cell anemia, this project gives them hydroxyurea starting in early childhood and slowly increases the dose to the highest safe level while checking blood tests and side effects. Clinics in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Uganda enrolled children and followed them with regular visits, labs, and tracking of sickle-related events. The teams collected thousands of patient-years of data on safety, feasibility, and clinical benefits in real-world African healthcare settings. The goal is to make hydroxyurea a practical, safe, and effective treatment option where most children with SCA live.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young children (infants through about 11 years old) with a confirmed diagnosis of sickle cell anemia at participating sites in the listed African countries.
Not a fit: People without sickle cell anemia, older adolescents or adults outside the age range, or children with medical contraindications to hydroxyurea would not be expected to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lower pain crises, serious infections, and early childhood deaths from sickle cell anemia where hydroxyurea is currently underused.
How similar studies have performed: Hydroxyurea has a strong track record improving outcomes in high-income countries and earlier REACH results demonstrated safety and clinical benefit in African children.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- 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
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 below.