Hydroxyurea treatment for young children with sickle cell anemia in 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-11399208 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $244,008 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HL133883-09S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399208 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
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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.