Making hydroxyurea safer and easier for children with sickle cell in Africa
Promoting Utilization and Safety of Hydroxyurea Using Precision in Africa
This project uses personalized (pharmacokinetic-guided) dosing of hydroxyurea to improve safety and treatment for children with sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rhode Island Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11080381 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of a study testing a personalized dosing approach that measures how hydroxyurea behaves in each child and then sets an individualized daily dose. Children at two clinical sites (Luanda, Angola and Mwanza, Tanzania) are randomly assigned to receive this precision dosing approach or standard dosing. The team uses a portable, battery-powered HPLC device to measure drug levels and aims to limit frequent lab visits and reduce blood-related toxicities. The goal is to make hydroxyurea treatment more practical and safer for children in low-resource settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with sickle cell anemia receiving care at participating clinics in Luanda, Angola or Mwanza, Tanzania are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Adults, people without sickle cell anemia, or children who cannot access the two study sites are not expected to benefit from this specific trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make hydroxyurea safer and more accessible, leading to fewer sickle cell complications and less frequent laboratory monitoring for children in Africa.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies, including the team's own prospective work, have shown that pharmacokinetic-guided hydroxyurea dosing can improve outcomes with low toxicity, and this trial expands that approach to African clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Rhode Island Hospital — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcgann, Patrick Thomas — Rhode Island Hospital
- Study coordinator: Mcgann, Patrick Thomas
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.