Hydroxyurea treatment for 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-11384188 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $19,975 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HL133883-09S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384188 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young children (infants through about 11 years old) with a confirmed diagnosis of sickle cell anemia at participating sites in the listed African countries.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
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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.