Hydroxyurea treatment for young children with sickle cell anemia in Africa
Realizing Effectiveness Across Continents with Hydroxyurea(REACH): A Phase I/II Pilot Study of Hyroxyurea for Children with Sickle Cell Anemia
Giving hydroxyurea to young children with sickle cell anemia in several African countries to reduce sickle-related problems while monitoring safety.
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-11399208 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project treated over 600 children with sickle cell anemia in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Uganda, starting in early childhood and increasing the dose to each child’s maximum tolerated level. Children had regular clinic visits for blood tests, safety checks, and tracking of pain episodes, hospital visits, and other sickle-related events. The work included newborn screening to identify affected infants and used standardized rules to guide dose changes and manage side effects. Local clinical teams collected long-term outcome data in routine care settings to show whether hydroxyurea is feasible and beneficial in these low-resource environments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young children (infants through about 11 years old) with confirmed sickle cell anemia who can attend one of the participating clinics in the listed African countries are the typical candidates.
Not a fit: Children without sickle cell anemia, adults, or patients with medical conditions that make hydroxyurea unsafe (for example, severe bone marrow failure or uncontrolled infections) would not be expected to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower pain crises, hospitalizations, and early deaths from sickle cell anemia in African children and support wider safe use of hydroxyurea there.
How similar studies have performed: Hydroxyurea has a strong record of safety and benefit in children with sickle cell anemia in high-income countries, and this project applied and documented that approach in African settings.
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.