Nigeria Sickle Cell Care and Research Network
Official title: Sickle Pan African Research Consortium Nigeria (SPARC-NEt)
Funded at University of Abuja · NIH-11097198 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is expanding newborn screening, ongoing clinic care, and treatments like penicillin and hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell in Nigeria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Abuja NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Abuja, Nigeria) |
| Project start | June 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $306,021 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HL156942-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11097198 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Newborns, infants, and children with sickle cell disease in Nigeria who can attend one of the participating clinics are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without sickle cell disease, patients who live outside Nigeria or cannot access participating centers, and those ineligible for the program's interventions may not receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you or your child has sickle cell, this program is building a network of clinics across Nigeria to find babies early and keep patients in care. The team is training health workers, creating a shared REDCap database, and enrolling patients at 19 sites so care follows common protocols. The work includes giving penicillin to young children, offering hydroxyurea to those who need it, and monitoring for stroke risk. By standardizing care and collecting patient data, the program aims to make it easier for families to receive proven treatments and for researchers to improve care over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, many more children in Nigeria could be diagnosed at birth and receive treatments that reduce infections, complications, and deaths before age five.
How similar studies have gone: Other programs in Africa and elsewhere have shown that newborn screening, penicillin prophylaxis, and hydroxyurea lower mortality and complications, though wide-scale implementation in Nigeria has been limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nnodu, Obiageli Eunice — University of Abuja
- Study coordinator: Nnodu, Obiageli Eunice
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving blood pressure and diabetes care in Nigerian clinics
This program expands a clinic-based package (HEARTS) to help adults in Nigeria get better control of high blood pressure and diabetes.
-
Scaling up Nigeria's national salt reduction program
This project works to lower salt in Nigerian foods and communities to help reduce high blood pressure in adults.
-
Training program for researchers focused on sickle cell disease and related conditions in Africa
This study is creating a special training program for future leaders in West Africa to help them learn about sickle cell disease and related conditions, so they can improve health care and make a positive difference in their communities.
-
Improving hypertension control in Nigeria
This study is looking to improve how high blood pressure and diabetes are managed in Nigeria by trying out a new approach in 50 healthcare centers, and it aims to see how well this helps patients control their conditions and keep the services running smoothly.
-
Reducing sodium intake in Nigeria to prevent hypertension
This study is looking at ways to help people in Nigeria lower their salt intake to prevent high blood pressure, using a friendly program that includes talking to the community, working with food companies, and teaching everyone about healthy eating.
-
Improving blood pressure management for people living with HIV.
This study is looking at a new way to help people with HIV in Nigeria manage high blood pressure by training nurses to take on more responsibilities, making it easier for patients to get the care they need.
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.