Intravenous citrulline for sickle cell VOC treatment in kids and adults
Official title: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trial of intravenous citrulline for vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease
Funded at Children's Research Institute · NIH-11326206 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A phase 2 trial tests whether IV citrulline added to usual care can reduce pain and hospital stay for people with sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $859,703 |
| NIH project number | 5R33HL167806-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326206 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and children with sickle cell disease experiencing vaso-occlusive crisis who require hospitalization.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without VOC or those not meeting trial criteria may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
This trial will randomly assign patients with sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis to receive intravenous citrulline or placebo in addition to standard opioids. It is designed to be double-blind, so neither participants nor clinicians know who gets citrulline. The goal is to see if citrulline helps relax blood vessels, reduce pain, and shorten hospital stays. Researchers will monitor safety and collect data on opioid needs and recovery. This study focuses on patients affected by sickle cell disease, a condition more common in people of African descent.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience less pain and faster recovery during VOC episodes, potentially reducing opioid use and hospital time.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in related areas suggests promise for amino acid–driven nitric oxide pathways, but this particular CITRULLINE trial is targeted and early in development.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Research Institute
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Majumdar, Suvankar — Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Majumdar, Suvankar
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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.