Mobile phone screening for anemia in young children in western Kenya
Official title: Mobile phone-based screening for anemia in young children in western Kenya
Funded at Rhode Island Hospital · NIH-11393125 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Uses a mobile phone approach to find anemia in young children in western Kenya.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rhode Island Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2023 |
| Project end | August 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $221,547 |
| NIH project number | 4R33HD110154-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393125 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The ideal candidates are young children (especially under 5 years) living in western Kenya who can be seen at participating clinics or community screening events.
✕Less likely to help
Adults, older children outside the target age range, or families without any way to access the local screening sites or follow-up care are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
What this research studies
From a caregiver's point of view, researchers will use mobile-phone based tools to screen young children for anemia and compare those results to standard laboratory tests. The project will work with local health workers and clinics to collect simple phone-based measurements and follow-up data. If a child screens positive, the team will help link that child to diagnostic testing and available treatments for causes like iron deficiency, malaria, or sickle cell disease. The study focuses on practical, low-cost methods that could be used widely in communities with limited lab access.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it easier to find and treat anemia early in children where lab testing is scarce, reducing illness and complications.
How similar studies have gone: Related phone- and image-based screening methods have shown promise in pilot work, but wide validation in young children in low-resource settings remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Rhode Island Hospital
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcgann, Patrick Thomas — Rhode Island Hospital
- Study coordinator: Mcgann, Patrick Thomas
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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.