Improving sickle cell care in Mali through a Pan‑African network
Official title: Improving Sickle Cell Disease Care in Mali through Engagement with a Pan-African Sickle Cell Disease Network.
Funded at Univ of Sciences, Tech & Tech of Bamako · NIH-11088171 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds a patient registry and consistent care at a Bamako treatment center to improve care for children and adults with sickle cell disease in Mali.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Sciences, Tech & Tech of Bamako NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bamako, Mali) |
| Project start | May 11, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $233,924 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HL157007-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088171 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diagnosed or suspected sickle cell disease in Mali—especially children and families who can access the CRLD center in Bamako—are the ideal candidates to join the registry and receive care.
✕Less likely to help
People without sickle cell disease or those who cannot travel to or access care at the Bamako center are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would be part of a large effort based at the Centre Recherche et de Lutte contre la Drepanocytose (CRLD) in Bamako that registers up to 4,000 people with sickle cell disease using electronic health records. The team will deliver consistent standards of care (like infection prevention, pain management, and follow‑up) with ongoing quality checks and improvement activities. The work is linked to a Pan‑African sickle cell network supported by NHLBI to share lessons and coordinate care across sites. Researchers will also run observational and implementation studies to find practical ways to expand newborn screening and proven treatments across the region.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect sickle cell earlier and reduce childhood deaths and serious infections by delivering proven preventive care and better follow‑up.
How similar studies have gone: Similar programs using newborn screening, registries, and standardized prophylaxis (vaccines and antibiotics) have reduced deaths in other settings, though wide implementation in sub‑Saharan Africa remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Sciences, Tech & Tech of Bamako
Bamako, Mali Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guindo, Aldiouma — Univ of Sciences, Tech & Tech of Bamako
- Study coordinator: Guindo, Aldiouma
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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.